Antique Kurawanka Chawan Bowl, Heavy, 8 1/2” Wide

Japanese kurawanka chawan (bowls) were prized for their unrefined elegance and the distinctive sales cry used by vendors on boats in Hirakata selling saki and rice cakes, presumably served or stored in this style of bowl. The vendors would yell ‘kurawanka sake, kurawank mochi’ at prospective buyers with enthusiasm, according to our online research. The bowls were in common use in the area during the Edo period (1603-1868) and later imitated by master craftsmen in Kyoto. 
 
We could not find truly similar items online, but the bowl has a sticker on the bottom claiming it to be ‘kurawanka’. We believe the Burr sisters would have picked up this piece on one of their visits to Japan in the 1920s or 1930s. It does have a crack which has been repaired, and a notch in the rim, alongside natural imperfections from the glazing process as evident from the bubbles in the mirror and base of the bowl as shown in photos.
 
H 3 5/8” x diameter 8 1/2”
 
Disclaimer: We have tried to make sure colors shown in photos are representative of the real colors of each item. We have tried to identify all imperfections in descriptions, but we may have missed some. If you are unhappy with your purchase, let us know.