This hira-gata Aka-Oribe chawan (matcha bowl) has a wide, open shape, perfect for letting tea cool in the warmer months. This open shape is distorted by three chamfered faces that spiral up the bowl. Each of these faces is painted with a different abstract, geometric design. The rest of the bowl features a warm and subtle red-orange slip coated in a clear ash glaze. The unique chamfers, organically uneven shape, and abstract designs make this cup a great expression of Furuta Oribe’s aesthetic philosophy of hyouge (へうげ) which roughly translates to ‘playful’, ‘charming’, ‘jocular’, ‘warped’ etc. Please note that due to the organic nature of hand-carving, glazing, and painting, there are variations between pieces, with each bowl being unique in shape and design.