National Treasure Yuteki Tenmoku tea bowl
Stoneware with “oil spots” and iridescent luster on tenmoku glaze
Southern Song dynasty, 12th–13th century, Jian ware
The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka (gift of SUMITOMO Group, the ATAKA Collection)
Photograph MUDA TOMOHIRO
This work is the finest black-glazed tea bowl used for drinking tea, which became popular during the Song dynasty. Known by the name yuteki in Japan, meaning “oil drops,” it has been highly prized since the Muromachi period (1336–1573) for its characteristic oil-drop-like beautiful spots and iridescent luster. It is said to have been owned by Toyotomi Hidetsugu (1568–1595).
