Seto black tea bowl with a golden leaf, Mino ware

Setoguro is also called hikidashiguro (“withdrawn black”) because the black lacquer-like color is the result of rapid cooling of pottery being “withdrawn” from the kiln once the iron glaze melts into a bright red color. During the Momoyama period plain, cylindrical tea bowls were common. Hōzō created exquisite modern Setoguro ware by adding gold-painted leaf designs.