Chawan / Shigaraki / Kanagawa / Komori Shoan
Shigaraki Chawan by Komori Shoan
Komori Shoan (1901-1989) was a Tea Master and also a master maker of chadogu, or Tea Utensils. His chawan are held in the highest esteem here in Japan as well as his chashaku or Tea scoops. In the large Chawan Encyclopedia (Chawan Hyaka Dai Zukan) book published in 1997 there are two Komori chawan featured, one Shino and the other Shigaraki. Here is a very fine example of Komori's Shigaraki. This chawan has a low profile, like that of a Setoguro chawan, and a flowing textured surface where Komori incised diagonal lines all around the body. It contrasts nicely with the smooth interior. Ash-glaze licked the front and the rest is pure Shigaraki clay flavor and hi-iro. The kodai is also worthy of note. ONLY a Chajin could make such a chawan. In perfect condition with an unsigned box---with a signed box the price would be much more--signed on base with Komori's pine needle mark, 8.8cm.tall and 12.1cm.wide. Robert can sign the finely made box if requested. The last photo is a rare shot of an illustrious group taken in 1954. From left to right in the front row, Kato Hajime, Ishiguro Munemaru, Kaneshige Toyo and Arakawa Toyozo; back room l-r Kuroda Ryoji, Kato Tokuro, Koyama Fujio, Komori Shoan and Kondo Yuzo! They had formed a group called Touri-kai and this photo was taken during a retreat in Izu.