Kyoto. The name conjures up images of courtly nobles and stoic Zen temples -- and yet so much more of Japan's cultural identity was born in that ancient city. In the world of ceramics, one of its glorious contributions has been Kyo-yaki, or Kyoto pottery.
Nonomura Ninsei is the father of Kyo-yaki. Ninsei was active in the mid-17th century but he still has a major influence on the way Kyo-yaki is made today. He is best-known for his expressive tea-storage jars and dainty kogo (incense containers). However, he also made some brilliant chawan (tea bowls).
Any visitor to Kyoto has, I'm sure, seen bowls with designs like those Ninsei created. What most folks have not seen are the originals, as they are kept in various museum and private collections throughout Japan and are rarely displayed.