This refined mizusashi embodies the understated elegance prized by Momoyama-period tea masters. Cast in a nearly black sahari alloy, a demanding blend of copper and tin, the vessel’s surface is adorned with delicately incised straight lines carved across a finely textured ground, a feat of precision made more challenging by the jar’s curved form. Used to hold fresh, cold water for the tea ceremony, Sahari reflects the quiet spirit of wabi-sabi. Its restrained form, subtle luster, and meticulous craftsmanship honor the contemplative sensibilities at the heart of the Japanese tea tradition. Its companion piece, Nagomi [Calmness], is in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
