23933 Mineo Okabe (Kiln-transformed rice-colored porcelain (wife's box, Nakadai Zuishin's box))

Height 7.4cm Diameter 15.8cm

Born as the eldest son of Kato Tokuro, Okabe Mineo inherited his father's advanced techniques while developing Mino pottery filled with modernity, and became famous as one of Japan's leading potters for his genius technique. Mineo, who left behind a unique glaze-colored celadon known to the world as "Mineo Celadon," perfected this millet-colored kiln-fired rice-colored porcelain after many years of research.

This tea bowl is thin and light, yet has a dignified presence. The extremely thin bowl is made on a potter's wheel with superb skill, and the width of the form and the shape of the rim are all magnificent, highlighting the deep and mysterious color of the rice-colored porcelain. The sparkle of the fine bubbles seen in the evenly distributed crazing seems to capture the universal beauty of nature. The box was made by Nakadai Zuishin, a Living National Treasure for woodcraft.