Tenmoku tea bowls hold a prized place in formal Japanese tea gatherings, where they are used to serve powdered green tea, or matcha. These stoneware bowls are distinguished by their conical shape and distinct Tenmoku glaze, which blends deep brown with iridescent lines and circles. Highly sensitive to the surrounding light, Tenmoku wares take on new characteristics as they are moved and handled. The glaze on Furutani’s bowl crackles across the surface to create a reflective, circular pattern. The small, densely packed circles at the bowl’s hip grow in size and seem to fade away as they climb toward the rim, an effect that is mirrored on the bowl’s interior.