18C Japanese Raku Ware Black Tea Bowl, Attributed to Raku 6th Sanyu #5351

width: approx. 11.5cm (4 17⁄32in)
height: approx. 8.2cm (3 15⁄64in)
weight: 385g (w/ box 635g)
note: The old wooden box is marked "Sanyu made," but it is not the original box (tomobako).

This piece is a black Raku tea bowl believed to have been crafted in the mid-Edo period (18th century), and is said to be the work of Raku Sanyu, the sixth-generation head of the Raku family, having been passed down through a distinguished household. The deep black glaze covering the entire bowl has a lustrous texture, exuding a serene yet powerful presence. The bowl’s soft feel in the hand, the gently swelling shape of the body, and the carefully finished foot embody the utilitarian beauty unique to Raku ware, achieving a superb balance between functionality and artistic expression. The impressed “Raku” seal on the base strongly suggests a direct connection to the Raku lineage. Raku Sanyu is known as a master who, while faithfully preserving the spirit of the founding potter Chōjirō, infused his works with his own distinct aesthetic sensibility.