Muromachi period (15th century)
Tangible Cultural Property, designated by Yamagata Prefecture
Donated by the Homma family
This flat tea bowl is believed to have been fired in the Seto kilns during the early Muromachi period (1336–1573). The natural distortions are characteristic of old Seto teaware, as are the thin string incisions on the foot of the bowl and the yellow-green grass-coloured glaze.
It is said to have been sought after by Kodo, the fourth-generation head of the Homma family; and that it once belonged to Hosokawa Sansai (Tadaoki), father of Hosokawa Tadatoshi, who was the first-generation head of the Hosokawa clan in the Kumamoto Domain.
Sansai was a member of the literati, with particular knowledge of tea ceremony. He was one of the seven leading disciples of Sen no Rikyū, and enjoyed using tea bowls favored by Rikyū.