Rare Japanese Antique Yellow Crackle Glaze Chawan 17 C.

DescriptionA rare and important Japanese Tsutsu chawan dating to the 17th century, made in the Raku school tradition of Kyoto. This exceptional antique tea bowl has the tall, cylindrical form prized for tea use, with subtly irregular hand-shaped walls and a softly undulating rim that give the piece a deeply personal and expressive character. The surface is covered in a beautiful yellow crackle glaze, its network of fine crazing adding warmth, depth, and age to the bowl’s already compelling presence.The bowl’s form and glaze reflect the intimate, hand-molded qualities that made early Raku wares so admired in the tea ceremony. Unlike wheel-thrown ceramics, Raku tea bowls were formed individually by hand, allowing each piece to possess its own distinct silhouette, balance, and spirit. This example carries that aesthetic beautifully, with a quiet strength and tactile immediacy that speak directly to the ideals of wabi-cha. The underside further enhances its appeal, showing attractive natural glaze drips that developed during the firing process.A Tsutsu chawan, or cylindrical tea bowl, is especially associated with tea practice in colder seasons, its taller walls helping to retain heat while offering a distinctive, elegant profile in the hand. The unusual yellow glaze makes this bowl especially scarce, as most early Raku examples are more commonly encountered in black or red tones. Its refined proportions, luminous crackled surface, and strong tea presence make it a highly desirable example for collectors of early Japanese ceramics and tea wares.This bowl was evaluated by TZ Shiota (#12) in the 1930s, when the family inherited the collection from their great-grandfather, adding another layer of history and continuity to an already remarkable object. A very rare and beautiful 17th century Kyoto Raku tea bowl, with strong form, exceptional glaze, and distinguished provenance.Raku ware originated in Kyoto in the late 16th century and became one of the most celebrated ceramic traditions associated with the Japanese tea ceremony. Favored for its hand-formed construction, low-fired character, and intimate connection between potter and object, Raku embodies the ideals of spontaneity, asymmetry, and quiet beauty that define the tea aesthetic.Provenance: From the personal collection of Frederic Cheever Torrey (1864-1935), partner of Vickery, Atkins & Torrey, interior design firm and art gallery founded in San Francisco in 1888.The gallery, most famous for its role in helping to introduce California to Impressionism, also offered fine works of Asian porcelain and Japanese woodblock prints. The location moved from several places in San Francisco and settled at 236 Post Street (now called Maiden Lane) when the 1906 earthquake hit. Though the resulting fire destroyed the gallery, Henry Atkins and gallery employees were able to rescue 3 wagon loads of art.In time, the partners opened a sweeping multi-leveled gallery in their permanent location at 550 Sutter Street.Frederic Torrey was the expert collector behind the gallery’s opulent array of Asian art in addition to oil paintings , prints and photographs. His home on Canyon Rd in Berkeley is now simply called Torrey House and was the location of his personal collection which included, most famously, Marcel Duchamp’s “Nude Descending a Staircase”.Age: 17th centuryDimensions: 4 1/4″ high x 3 5/8″ wide