Milky Blue Hagi-yaki Yunomi - 175ml

Name: Milky Blue Hagi-yaki Yunomi - 175ml
Brand: Senryūzan Kiln
SKU: US-T273
Price: 44.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Senryūzan Kiln

$44.00

This stunning wood-fired yunomi (teacup) is made in one of Senryūzan Kiln's unique styles, with a luminous, milky blue streaked glaze. To make each cup, the famous iron-rich Hagi mishima (三島) clay is hand-thrown on a kick wheel, giving each piece a unique, organic shape. Then they are covered in an ash and slip glaze and fired in a climbing kiln in an reducing atmosphere, where the ash in the glaze de-vitrifies, producing a beautiful, clouded, streaky effect with fine crazing in shades of milky blue, grey, and even purple.

Like most Hagi ware, this piece is porous and will absorb water and tea and change colour over time. Before using it for the first time, it is recommended to soak the piece in water for 10 minutes. This will dislodge any dust from the clay as well as slow down the natural development of patina in the glaze. Slowing the staining process allows the colour change to progress naturally and beautifully. With each subsequent, we suggest rinsing the cup with hot water.

Hagi-yaki (萩焼) is a type of Japanese pottery that comes from the town of Hagi in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan and dates back over 400 years. Some of the oldest Hagi-yaki pieces have been declared National Treasures of Japan. The natural warm hues of its clay, along with the simple lines of its forms are highly valued within the traditional aesthetics of many tea ceremony schools.

Hagi ware is said to improve with age as the tannins in the tea slowly stain the fine cracks in the glaze (called crazing or kan-nyuu), creating a rich texture known as 'nanabake', or 'the 7 transformations'. Because of this slightly porous nature, some people like to dedicate their Hagi ware to one type of tea, such as sencha, to avoid having other aromas seep into the clay.

Illustrated map of Japan highlighting Hagi, Yamaguchi — the production region of Hagi-yaki pottery

Founded in 1826 towards the end of Edo period, Senryūzan Kiln contines the traditional techniques of Hagi-yaki, employing a kick wheel for many of their piece, instead of the more convenient electric pottery wheel. They also continue to make all of their clays and glazes in-house, rather than rely on commercially available materials, meaning their works reflect the natural materials, colours, and textures of Hagi. Lastly, firing in a wood-fired climing kiln (登り窯 - noborigama) gives each piece a unique charm and unpredictability not found in gas-fired ceramics.