Set of Four Japanese Arita Ware Tea Bowls Early 20th Century

A hand painted and artistic set of Japanese tea bowls, each with amazingly similar paintings.

The set of four thick and heavy molded porcelain tea bowls have under glaze cobalt paintings with designs of clouds, pines, and pagodas. The paintings are very ethereal with pagodas and trees in the clouds. The bowls were hand painted with nearly identical pattern, although each differs a bit. The bowls have unglazed raised feet and glazed bases. The body glaze is very thick and smooth with many tiny air bubbles in the surface, and it has a soft blue cast. The cobalt used is a nice smoky blue.

There is a Japanese mark in a rectangular cartouche on the base in cobalt. A single blue line circles the mark near the foot. The bottom of the feet have some spots of iron oxide from firing.

Each bowl measures 4 1/8” (10.5 cm) x 4 1/8” (10.5 cm) x 2 ½” (6.4 cm) tall. Weighs 1 lb 12.1 oz (795 g)

There are no breaks, cracks or chips. The glazes are fresh and bright. There are few tiny wear marks in the wells of the bowls. A couple of the bowls have a few tiny black spots and other minor kiln flaws.

An artistic, very well painted tea bowl set that you could still serve tea in. They feel so good in the hand.