Oribe bowls were fired in Mino under the direction of the warrior tea master Furuta Oribe, and are characterised by a vivid copper-green glaze together with bold distortion and painting. They embody a beauty of broken symmetry quite distinct from Rikyu's wabi.
History
Many Oribe wares were made in Keicho-era Mino under Oribe's guidance, dividing into ao-Oribe (green), kuro-Oribe (black), Narumi-Oribe, and so-Oribe. Shoe-shaped forms, distortion, and bold painting are common to all, and the group represents the most radical expression of Momoyama aesthetics.
Types
The colour of the copper-green glaze, iron painting, the distortion of the shoe form, and the irregular movement of the rim are the points of interest. The style extended well beyond bowls, into serving dishes, water jars, and flower vessels.
In practice
Oribe suits gatherings taking Momoyama design or warrior-class arrangements as their theme. The distortion is not damage or accident; a guest examining the bowl is meant to read it as a decision.
About this article
Edited by the operator of Chaen (a one-person operation) / Last updated:
Tea ceremony descriptions can vary by school and source. Where interpretations differ, this glossary avoids definitive claims and focuses on broadly shared understandings. If you notice an error, please let us know viaContact. To learn about our organization, seeAbout Chaen.
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Related terms
- Chawan (tea bowl)chawan
The bowl in which tea is whisked and drunk — usually the most closely examined object in a gathering.
- Raku chawan (Raku tea bowl)raku chawan
Hand-formed, low-fired bowls made by the Raku family of Kyoto; the emblem of the tea Rikyu aimed at.
- Shino chawan (Shino bowl)shino chawan
Mino bowls under a thick feldspar glaze, whose soft white and orange scorch marks define Momoyama taste.
- Karatsu chawan (Karatsu bowl)karatsu chawan
Plain, durable domestic bowls from Karatsu that improve with use; the most widely used bowls in daily practice.