Another tea ceremony ware was IGA, with coarse, sandy stoneware clays glazed with rich ash glaze (bidoro). This is hanging flower vase for use in the tea ceremony. Natural forms and glazes were preferred for the wabi-style tea ceremony, which had been introduced to Japan from Song China along with Zen Buddhism. With the acceptance of cha-no-yu by the samurai and wealthy classes, demand for tea ceremony ware increased. Typical accessories for cha-no-yu were:
1) a small jar for powdered tea
2) a cha-wan (tea bowl)
3) a washing bowl
4) a kaiseki dish (for small cakes)
5) an incense box
6) an incense burner
7) a flower vase to hold a single spray of flowers
8) occasionally, a water holder
Iga Ware Flower Vase for the Tea Ceremony,
Japan, Momoyama Period, 1500's CE
