Mizusashi Water Jar for the Tea Ceremony – Noma Gazan, 1960s

This 1960s mizusashi combines a calm, classic silhouette with a beautifully animated surface. It comes with a lid topped by a hand-formed knob that has the look and feel of braided clay.

Dimensions: height 20 cm, diameter 15 cm.

The stoneware is finished with a thick, winding glaze that sits in relief over a pale ground. In the light, it reveals a nuanced range from white and soft greys to deep purple, with gentle transitions and fine crackle throughout. Along the rim, the glaze gathers into rich, expressive drips.

Shiso-te yū is a traditional Japanese glaze inspired by the purplish-green tones of shiso leaves; its natural variations make each piece subtly unique.

The vessel was made by Noma Gazan and bears a clear maker’s stamp on the base. Originally intended as a water jar for the Japanese tea ceremony, it also works beautifully today as a decorative object—on a low cabinet, in open shelving, or as a quiet focal point in a wabi-sabi interior. It can also be used practically as an elegant storage jar for loose tea, small sweets, or other small items.

Condition: perfect; signed/stamped on the base.