Black Red Yōhen Tokoname Teapot - 230ml

Name: Black Red Yōhen Tokoname Teapot - 230ml
Brand: Murata Yoshiki
SKU: US-K59
Price: 198.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Murata Yoshiki

★★★★★ (1)

$198.00

This exquisitely crafted Tokoname-yaki kyusu (teapot) has a unique shape and is made from the iconic Tokoname shudei (朱泥) clay, known for its brilliant red colour and ability to subtly reduce the astringency of tea. This pot has a striking yōhen (窯変) gradient from a rich red to a deep black, created by a second reduction firing in which the pot is half covered in rice husks.

The surface is unpolished and unsmoothed, in a style called sujihiki (筋引) which is a subtler variation of rokurome (ろくろ目 - potters' wheel marks) which shows the flow of the potter's fingers as they shaped the piece on the wheel. To further show off the handmade nature of the teapot, the joins between the handle, spout, and body are left unsmoothed, showing where the potter's fingers blended the pieces together. The teapot's built-in ceramic debeso filter is perfect for naturally straining tea.

The kyusu comes in its original kiribako (桐箱 - paulownia wood box) signed and sealed by the artist.

Tokoname-yaki (常滑焼) is a type of Japanese pottery that traditionally comes from Tokoname in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The site of one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns, pottery has been made in Tokoname since the 12th century.

Today, Tokoname ware is known for its iconic brick-red clay called shudei. Famously used in teaware and bonsai pots, this clay’s vibrant colour comes from its rich iron content. Tea steeped in unglazed Tokoname teapots is said to have a mellower taste.

Yōhen is used to generally describe many kiln effects across various ceramics styles (including Tenmoku, where it is spelled 曜変). In Tokoname-ware, however, this term specifically refers to the attractive and often dramatic colour gradients and patches caused by certain firing conditions. One way this is achieved is by partially submerging the teapot in sawdust while firing. Yōhen pots typically have a gradient from a dark black or brown to shudei red, though some potters use this technique with ryokudei or koudei clays to produce unique colour patterns. As the exact pattern produced is highly dependent on the position of the piece in the kiln as well as the firing temperature, atmosphere, and fuel, producing a consistent result across many pieces takes a great amount of skill, patience, and practice.