This Hagi-yaki houhin (handleless-teapot) features a beautiful loquat-coloured (枇杷色 - Biwa-iro) glaze. Like most houhin, it has a wide, triangular open spout which allows for fast pouring, a simple ceramic do-ake filter which lends no metallic taste to the tea, and a wide opening which allows for easy viewing of the tea leaves and easy cleaning.

Made by Tsubaki Kiln (椿窯, stamped 天鵬).

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.

Dimensions:

10.6cm (4.2in) - width
7.9cm (3.1in) - height
160ml - capacity

Condition: Very good

This vintage Japanese item ships from the United States