Collection: Tea Bowls (Chawans)

Japanese for tea bowl, the chawan has been used in Japanese tea ceremony since the 13th century when it was originally imported from China. The Chinese Jian chawan, known in Japan as a Tenmoku chawan, was the preferred tea bowl in Japan until the 16th century. The Japanese tenmoku is named after Tianmu Mountain in Hangzhou, China where Japanese priests obtained tea bowls they brought back to Japan. Historically and continuing today, the chawan is also an artistic expression seeking beauty in form and function. Below you will find our selection of fine Japanese chawans.