A unglaze bowl found in Aichi Prefecture. The beautiful natural glaze is lightly glazing on the high fired dark gray body. It is so called “Yama-Chawan”, the name is derived from the fact that is many pieces of pottery were dumped in the remains of a kiln in the mountains.
 
In the Tokai region, the production of ash glaze ware began in the 10th century, but in the latter half of the 11th century, the potters abandoned the glazing technique and switched to the production of unglazed pottery “Yama-Chawan”. After that, it was fired in large quantities for about 400 years until the 15th century. It is generally said that the purpose of the wares were tablewares for the common people, but there are some other opinion that this such rough body wares were unsuitable for food.
 
Oddly enough, the founding of Yama-Chawan coincides with the time when simplicity and frugality was began to be encouraged. It is possible that the Shogunate (government) was trying to maintain its order by spreading intentionally crude tableware to the people.
 
This bowl is probably from the Kamakura period, as can be guessed from the shape of the bowl. The base are mostly lost because they were welded to the bowl below when they were layered. Other than that, there are no cracks and it can be said that the condition is good for this kinds.
 
W13.5cm × H5cm