This tea bowl was made in 1993 by Yabe Makoto [YAH-bay mah-KO-toe], a Japanese potter who was born in 1947 in Fukushima, Japan and died in 2005. When asked in an interview why he decided to become a potter, Yabe spoke of an experience he had at the age of 17 when he went to see an art show sponsored by the Japan Art Association. He came across a piece that he said was so beautiful it hit his heart–“a white bowl, just a simple sphere with a few color streaks on it. That piece is still vivid in my memory.” A year later, as he was thinking about his future, he remembered that beautiful bowl and decided he wanted to become a potter.

During that time in Japan, people often chose to follow the traditional profession of their families, so it was unusual for Yabe to pursue pottery rather than become a businessman like his father. Yabe was initially discouraged by his mother and some of his teachers to pursue his love of pottery, but later received support after showing his determination. He went to vocational school for pottery during the day and attended college at night, where he took courses in chemistry so he could learn to make glazes. After graduating, he worked as a potter’s apprentice in Kyoto. He then moved to Boston where he gained quick acceptance from the local ceramic community while still maintaining his Japanese style and roots. Yabe worked as an instructor of ceramics at numerous schools and universities in the Boston area, encouraging his students in their love of pottery.

Yabe believed that to become a great artist, one needs to be curious and childlike, and keep trying new things. In his words, “If you become satisfied with your work, you’re just repeating the same stuff; you don’t go forward.”

An artist making a tea bowl must think about many things—how the bowl will be used, how it will look and feel in the hands of the host who makes the tea, and how it will look and feel to the guests who drink from it. The base is important because the bowl must sit firmly and not tip over. The lip is important because that is where the bowl will touch the lips of the guests when they drink. The inside is equally important. When the bowl is used, host and guest will see it from all sides, including looking straight into the bowl while drinking. Inspiration may come from the practical aspects of making a bowl easy to drink tea from, but it also must come from a desire to delight the visual and tactile senses of the host and guest as they use the bowl.

The tea bowl is the centerpiece of the Japanese tea ceremony. Traditionally, a tea bowl has no handles and is made to be held in both hands. It is the most active of all tea utensils as it gets passed around to all of the guests. Each guest drinks out of the bowl and examines its shape, color, and texture before returning it to the host. Those who make tea bowls aim at making a bowl that will engage the senses of vision and touch, and small and subtle variations are often prized.

The ritual of serving tea involves a number of specific steps for the host and guests. It can last anywhere from twenty minutes to five hours and consists of two distinct stages, represented by the drinking of thick tea (about the consistency of white Elmer’s glue) and thin tea (about the consistency and frothiness of hot chocolate). Both types of tea are prepared by whisking green tea powder with water, but the powder used to make thin tea comes from plants that are younger than those used for thick tea, and more water is used in the preparation of thin tea.

When preparing for the ceremony, the host places a little mountain of powdered green tea inside a tea caddy or container. Once the ceremony begins, he removes the lid of the caddy and scoops a small amount of tea powder into a tea bowl, whisking it with hot water to create a bitter green tea. After the guests have finished their tea and the host has cleaned the utensils, the guests will often examine each item, noticing its color, shape, size, glaze, and texture. The utensils are handled with extreme care and reverence because they are often very valuable. The host chooses which containers to use based on who is attending the ceremony, the level of formality, the season, the time of day, and how each container will complement other utensils used.

Information about the Japanese tea ceremony can be found here.

Another tea bowl in the Denver Art Museum’s collection:

Black Raku Tea Bowl

Two examples of tea caddies in the Denver Art Museum’s collection:

Ceramic Tea Caddy for Thick Tea

Natsume, Sun and Moon Thin Tea Caddy