Trying to decide on a chawan here and I want to see what members of the board think about the following. Which would you choose and maybe why if you can figure out why.

1.



or

2.




for more details:
1. http://www.yuuki-cha.com/Organic+Matcha/Matcha+Bowls/Tetsuaka+Seto+Yaki+Matcha+Bowl
2. http://www.yuuki-cha.com/Organic+Matcha/Matcha+Bowls/Aka+Raku+Yaki+Matcha+Bowl

In my own personal preference, I'd choose the second one. I base this mostly on the colour and the sort of wavy swishes on it's outside. I also like the shape of it a little more then option #1.

Functionally, I believe that site said the second was slightly wider and slightly less deep. I'm not sure how this would affect the brewing, if it would be an advantage or not. (Or not really a detail worth noting!)

My preference is the second, mostly based on it being more appealing to my eyes, so you should probably take this with a grain of salt

Weird, I responded but saw Okimasa's post instead. Anyway if it were me I'd have to choose the first one, just going from looks and not knowing any details. For me I just like the black highlights on the chawan. It has a sorta 'well used' look to it. But both are nice.

Yeah, I agree with that, the antiquing on the first certainly does add a nice feel to it!

I don't know, I still prefer the second one. The glaze has a certain depth that the first one doesn't have. Maybe, when looking at it from this perspective, you should ask yourself what do you prefer; the well used and loved antique look, or the fresh and deep new look!

The second one seems to have a more traditional Japanese chawan shape, although in reading info about the first one, that one too is traditional in the sense of old style and not new.

In looking at the three chawan I have, I don't have any that is the traditional raku shape like that of the second one although I have one that is close to it. I bought this one from O-Cha

I wish I could actually hold both of these chawan and decide that way which one I'd like. Alas, that's not possible.