Above: Black Raku tea bowl named Koto (court rank for blind priests) by Raku Chojiro

Fans of Japanese ceramics shouldn’t miss this exhibition of Raku ware, which has been made by the Raku family since 1574, and was inspired by the Sancai ware of Ming Dynasty China. Produced by generation after generation, with each making subtle changes to express an evolution in style and technical innovation, Raku ware has been prized by tea masters for centuries. The muted earth tones and “rough” finish of the pieces embody the wabi-sabi aesthetic, the Buddhist-inspired world view that everything is imperfect, impermanent and incomplete.

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Above: Black Raku tea bowl named Koto (court rank for blind priests) by Raku Chojiro

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