Raku: The Cosmos in a Tea Bowl

LACMA presents Raku: The Cosmos in a Tea Bowl. This exhibition comprises nearly 100 masterpieces with examples from all 15 generations and the subsequent generation of the Raku family, whose celebrated legacy continues to influence global ceramics. More than half of the ceramic objects in the exhibition are tea bowls. Other works include incense containers and burners, food utensils, water jars, and other objects used in the Japanese tea ceremony.  Three Registered works are featured in the exhibition. One tea bowl by Raku I (Chōjirō) and one tea bowl by Raku III (Dōnyū) are each Registered Important Cultural Properties. Another tea bowl by Hon'ami Koetsu, an artist and potter outside the Raku family who achieved great fame for his works, is designated an Important Art Object. Special permission from the Japanese Government’s Ministry of Culture was required to include these Registered works in this exhibition.

Image credits: 

Chōjirō (Raku I), Shallow Bowl with Melon Design (detail), 16th century, Tokyo National Museum, TNM Image Archives

Seinyū (Raku XIII), Tea Bowl named 'Yachiyo' (detail), 20th century, Raku Museum, Photo: Masayuki Miyahara  

Sōnyū (Raku V), Incense Burner in the Form of an Owl (detail), 17th–18th century, Raku Museum, Photo: Takashi Hatakeyama 

Kakunyū (Raku XIV) , Tea Bowl named 'Juei' (detail), 1975, Raku Museum, Photo: Takashi Hatakeyama