This Hikidashi-guro Chawan named Kissako, was made in 1972 and features a style characterized by its rich, dark, and almost metallic appearance, resulting from its unique firing process.

The bowl has an organic, slightly uneven form, with soft, curving edges that add to its natural feel. The foot of the bowl is quite pronounced, with visible tool marks on the rough clay base, made in the unique style of this ceramic artist.

The glaze has a dark, iron-like texture with subtle variations in colour, ranging from deep blacks to browns, and hints of ash glaze patterns. This variation in texture is characteristic of the Hikidashi-guro style, which involves pulling the bowl from the kiln while it is still extremely hot, leading to these stunning and irregular surfaces. The glaze appears slightly glossy in certain areas while being matte and rustic in others, adding to the visual depth.

On the bowl's exterior, you can observe slight undulations in the glaze, with spots where it may have thinned out during firing, revealing some of the underlying clay body.
The base is left unglazed, showcasing the raw, coarse clay from which the bowl was formed.

This Hikidashi-guro tea bowl exemplifies the beauty of traditional Japanese pottery, with its dark glaze, natural form, and the interplay of rough and smooth textures that create a powerful visual and sensory appeal. Its aesthetic is both rustic and refined, perfectly suited for the Japanese tea ceremony, where the simplicity and complexity of a bowl are highly appreciated.