IBA 05 — Sculptural tea bowls

$450.00

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Hand-built in Shizuoka, Japan, by acclaimed ceramicist Katsue Ibata. Featuring spontaneous black motifs and exposed terracotta accents near the base, each bowl (chawan) is a singular, one-of-one work that bridges functional object and contemporary sculpture.

Reflecting Ibata’s intuitive process, these raw, expressive pieces carry a solid weight and a grounding handfeel. Designed for intimate tea sessions, each bowl balances bold artistic form with everyday function. It is a soulful vessel for your daily practice and a standalone object that looks brilliant anywhere in the home.

Object use
Traditionally used as a Chawan (茶碗) for preparing and drinking matcha, this versatile vessel is equally suited to bowl-style tea, everyday tea rituals, or as a substantial bowl for daily use.

Object Specifications

Form | Sculptural Chawan (1-of-1 tea bowl)
Profile 01 | Ø 12 x H 9cm | Weight: 421g | Capacity: 400ml
Profile 02 | Ø 12 x H 7.5cm | Weight: 370g | Capacity: 340ml
Material | Ceramic
Origin | Shizuoka, Japan

About Katsue Ibata

Shizuoka, Japan

With over 30 years of experience as a ceramic artist, Katsue Ibata works intuitively with clay, allowing bold and playful forms to emerge naturally from her hands. She sees clay as a cooperative material that records every movement and touch. Her works are solid and weighty, finished with distinctive surface treatments.

Using spontaneous black brush marks on white clay, or a gunmetal glaze made from motza, Ibata layers colour before firing and polishes the surface afterwards to reveal a brass-like sheen. Some pieces are fired up to four times, with red-toned works requiring more complex processes than black-toned ones.

Ibata shares her studio with her artist partner, who creates wood-based lacquerware. Now, as grandparents, they have continued to practice their respective crafts side by side for decades, travelling internationally and sustaining a lifelong commitment to making. This dedication has made them deeply respected figures, particularly among younger generations of artists.

Teaware Care

Care
Avoid using a dishwasher or harsh detergents. Rinse with warm water after use and hand wash with a soft sponge when needed.

A note on handmade ceramics
Our artist teaware is handmade and may naturally develop subtle changes in colour and surface with use. This is part of the character and beauty of handmade ceramics. Some pieces have naturally porous clay bodies and may gradually darken in colour over time with regular use. This is a natural characteristic, not a defect, and one that many collectors appreciate.