Pair of Kurokin Natsume-Style Lacquer Matcha Bowls Chawan

A pair of Japanese matcha tea bowls (chawan) crafted in lacquerware style with a dramatic black and gold mottled surface. The glaze (or lacquer finish) produces a rich interplay of metallic tones, evoking a cosmic or ash-glazed aesthetic. Each bowl has a slightly different form — one with a gentle spout-like lip, the other wider and flatter — reflecting the individuality prized in tea ceremony wares. The bowls come housed in their original wooden tomobako box, inscribed 高級美術漆器 (Kōkyū Bijutsu Shikki), meaning “High-Grade Artistic Lacquerware.” The base of each bowl is marked with the artist’s name, Gyōzan (暁山). These chawan are designed for the Japanese tea ceremony (chanoyu), balancing elegance and wabi-sabi aesthetics with a contemporary metallic brilliance.