From the late 16th century AD until well into the 19th, the preparation and drinking of tea, and the appreciation of its associated utensils, formed a significant part of the cultural life of Japan. First introduced in connection with Zen meditation, the practice of tea was taken up by warriors and required high standards of aesthetic sensibility and personal comportment.

A tea gathering (chakai), lasted for several hours, and included a meal of many courses and much conversation, as well as the careful preparation and brewing of the tea. Ceramics were an important element of this, and particular tea wares acquired tremendous value. An important production area developed in Mino province in central Japan, providing wares for tea meetings. Ceramics in the west of Japan were influenced by Korean potters brought back after Hideyoshi’s attempted invasions in the 1590s.

Tea masters served as the arbiters of taste, ensuring the harmony of all elements - from the design of the teahouse to the choice of utensils and combination of guests. One of the most famous was Sen no Rikyû (1522-91), who served Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Rikyû promoted a preference for simple utensils, and Japanese ceramics rather than the continental pieces (karamono) that had previously been so popular. The aesthetic of rustic simplicity and austerity, known as wabi, is also associated with Rikyû.