Collection
Ao-ido Teabowl
| Ao-ido Teabowl |
| Height 6.8 cm, mouth diameter 16.0 cm; Korea, Joseon dynasty, 16th Century; Gift of the Ii Family |
The origin of the term “Ido” is a matter of debate, but the Ido teabowls were vessels produced for daily use in the southern Korean Peninsula. After being brought to Japan, they were prized as suitable to the wabi-style tea aesthetic, which emphasized simplicity and the beauty of folk-crafted objects. The name Ao-ido (“Blue Ido”) comes from the way the loquat-colored glaze turns bluish when fired. The foot is in the bamboo-node style, with a protrusion (tokin) in the center. Traces of meticulous mending with lacquer and gold (kintsugi) suggest how the bowl was treasured over the centuries.
