Raku Zoraku Creation: Red Tea Bowl with Accompanying Inscription by Sotaku-sai

This is an Aka Chawan (red tea bowl) with dimensions of diameter 13.4 cm, height 7.2 cm, and weight 308 g. It shows damage due to age, lacquer-repaired cracks, and dirt. It comes with a custom box (Sotsusakuzai Sho-fu). The tea bowl was made by Raku Sonyu, the fifth-generation head of the Raku family, a Raku ware potter from the early to mid-Edo period. Sonyu is renowned for his Aka Raku and Kuro Raku tea bowls, characterized by a grand style. Sotsusakuzai refers to Sotsusakuzai Sosa, the eighth-generation head of the Omotesenke school, a descendant of Sen no Rikyu. Among the Raku family's tea bowls, many famous pieces come with boxes inscribed by Sotsusakuzai.