Inspired by the sea, this striking hira-chawan (flat matcha bowl) has an open, shallow shape perfect for allowing tea to cool in the warmer months. The wide shape is balanced by an extremely small foot, giving the bowl an elegant silhouette. The name Aoumi (青海) means "Blue Ocean", evoking the vibrant colours of tropical waters. Capturing this imagery in clay, Satō-san embedded grains of sand under a multi-hued matte glaze which shifts from deep black to lapis lazuli to cerulean blue as it drips and pools across the bowl, mirroring the many colours of the sea.
Specifications
Made in Japan. Ships from the United States.
Diameter13.5 cm (5.31 in)
Height: 6.3 cm (2.48 in)
Please note that due to the organic nature of handmade teaware, there are subtle variations between pieces, with each bowl being slightly unique in shape, design, and color.
Meet Sora Sea Dō (ソラSea土)About the Artist
Based in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, ceramic artist Satō Shiho creates distinctive vessels inspired by the ever-changing light and colours of the natural world. This is reflected in the name of her studio, Sora Sea Dō: Sky, Sea, and Clay.
Her signature blue is multifaceted, recalling the depths of the sea, light shimmering across the water's surface, and the shifting hues of the blue sky seen from beneath the waves, inspired by her memories of gazing skyward when diving in Okinawa, Guam, and Hawaii.
Born in Odate, Akita Prefecture, Satō Shiho (佐藤志保) began working with clay in 2007. Her encounter with Daien-gama, a kiln known for Odate-yaki, led her to study ceramics in her hometown. In 2011, she established herself as an independent ceramic artist in Sendai and began her studio, Sora Sea Dō
No two pieces are exactly alike. Glaze, firing, light, and angle create subtle variations in every surface. Shiho describes her vessels as “vessels to be nurtured”—objects that become more familiar and beautiful through everyday use.
