Set of Two Antique Japanese Ceramic Ko-Seto Chaires

A collection of two ceramic chaires (Tea caddies) of Ko-seto ware type from Edo period Japan circa 18th to early 19th century. This type of small jar was made of stoneware in old Seto kilns in Gifu prefecture. Its specific form with raised shoulder and small opening was designed to store green tea powder (matcha). Prototyped from Chinese chaire, the container was considered the most important piece of the accoutrement for Chado (tea ceremony).

These two small jars were from the same collection (deaccessioned from Yale University Art Gallery collection) and complement each other well. They both feature a mottled brown ash glaze with dripping and splashing pattern. The lower part of the jar was left unglazed, typical for the ko-seto chaire. One chaire showcases a wonderful dark glaze markings in an abstract pattern. The other one is relatively plain with a pool of ash glaze on its shoulder. The random abstract glaze pattern created a wabi-sabi effect desired by Chado masters. Both chaires retain their old ivory lids with gold foil bottom (one is heavily stained) that are likely original and various old collecting paper labels with numbers and hand-written numbers as shown.
They measure approximately 2.45"h x 2.75" and 2.25"h x 3"dia respectively.
Similar Ko-seto Chaires can be found in the collection of Metropolitan Musuem of Art in NYC Object Number: 29.100.655a, b and The British Musuem 1947,0418.5.