Tea bowl

The tea bowl is complete. It is circular in shape. In profile, the bowl has an upwardly flaring wall topped by a straight rim. The lower part of the wall is curved towards the bottom, which is flat. The bowl rests on a small annular foot. The outer rim of the foot is beveled and free of glaze. The bottom is flat and recessed. The decoration covers the outside of the bowl, as well as the inside rim and bottom. The decoration is of the scenic lake type and is treated in Imari. It is hand-painted in two-tone blue underglaze, then traced and painted in iron red, with gold highlights, over glaze. The braid under the inner edge is traced in blue and outlined with a fillet. It is composed of two alternately repeated elements. One element is a plant motif traced and painted in red, bordered by two leaves traced and painted in blue with gold, and set between arched lines traced in blue. The second element is a double latticework in blue. The background is decorated with a small leafy, flowering stem traced and painted in red. The decoration on the outer wall consists of islands traced in blue and painted in faded red in places. The main island is lined with tufts of grass traced in blue and red; it supports two gable-roofed houses, traced and painted in blue with gilding; one of the walls is a trellis traced in red. They are flanked by three trees, including a pine painted blue with gilding and one trimmed with flowers traced and painted red, and a leafy stem traced blue and trimmed with flowers traced and painted red with gilding. On the opposite wall are two rocks emerging from the water, traced and painted blue with red grass and gilding, and a boat manoeuvred by a single individual with a pole. In the background is another rocky island, supporting a tall pagoda traced and painted blue with gilding, and a tree adorned with touches of red. Mountains, traced in blue and red and painted blue, rise in the distance.