Mizusashi in Shōdai sandstone (Shōdai-yaki), Edo period

This stoneware mizusashi from Shōdai-yaki has a vertical body with a rounded belly and a slightly sloping shoulder. The opening is wide, bordered by a thick rim, and the vessel is fitted with two small applied tenons on either side, treated as tiny handles. The surface is divided into two glaze registers: in the upper section, a light glaze, cream to beige, finely speckled, runs down in irregular drips; the boundary with the dark area forms a serrated edge. The lower section is covered in a deep brown to black, with areas of glaze and fusion resulting from the firing process. The base retains duller, more earthy patches, visible near the foot. The dark lid, with a ring handle, matches the brown register.

Historically, Shōdai-yaki belongs to the regional stoneware traditions that emerged at the beginning of the Edo period in Japan, a time when estates encouraged local production for everyday use, some forms of which were later adopted for the tea ceremony. In the Higo region (present-day Kumamoto), Shōdai developed a robust ceramic based on dense clay bodies and glazes combining light slip, ash, and iron oxides. Firing plays a crucial role: drips, glaze edges, variations in tone between cream, brown, and black, and controlled imperfections all contribute to the final appearance. This vocabulary of fire and material resonates with the wabi-sabi aesthetic sought in chanoyu, which favors slightly irregular forms and surfaces marked by the kiln's work.

Dimensions: approximately 21.8 cm (height); 18.5 cm (diameter).