Kohiki Kezuri-otoshi Rice Bowl

A kohiki rice bowl made by Kazufumi Wada, the fourth-generation potter at Keizan kiln in Toki City, Gifu Prefecture. The surface of each wheel-thrown bowl is carved and finished by hand, one piece at a time. Available in two sizes, small and large. Its simple, quiet presence settles easily into the everyday table.

The glaze is kohiki, with a white skin. The shadows of the straight lines and curves left by the carving rise softly to the surface.

Wada selects and blends the clay and glazes himself. After shaping the form on the wheel, he uses carving tools and metal blades to shave away the surface little by little. It is work that demands concentration, skill, and time.

Even with the same clay, technique, and glaze, differences appear in the colors that emerge from the firing. Variations in the depth of the glaze, pooling, runs, uneven color, and iron speckles are the individual character born inside the kiln, piece by piece. Small marks and slight warping are likewise not flaws, and do not affect use.

The uneven beauty of the carved surface cannot be reproduced by machine. It follows the fingers and sits steadily in the hand with a pleasing weight. What is made by hand fits the hand well. This is a bowl whose character deepens the more it is used.