Mel Jacobson was an apprentice to master potter Kunio Uchida in Kyoto, Japan. During his twelve month apprenticeship he learned that tea bowls are to be used for functional purposes and aesthetically should not overshadow the traditions of the tea ceremony. The historical restrictions of an authentic tea bowl are:
1. The shape is either Winter (tall sides) or Summer (open sides).
2. There should be a dent in the bottom of the bowl.
3. The colour of the clay should be warm (red, black, brown).
4. There should be a ring foot with a slight asymmetric cut.
5. There should be a nipple inside the ring foot.