This exquisite Hagi-yaki yunomi (teacup) is handbuilt (or handforming, called tebineri (手びねり) in Japanese) which refers to pottery made by hand without the use of a high-speed pottery wheel (instead using a low-speed hand spun wheel). As a result, the gentle uneveness and asymmetry of the pieces gives them a warm, organic feel, exuding the Japanese spirit of wabi-sabi.

This piece is glazed in a warm white that transitions into a dark brown at the base. This glazing, combined with their rugged surfaces, gives the impression of rocky snow-capped mountains.

This teacup was made by Notomi Choun (納富鳥雲) of Daikazan Klin (大華山窯).

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:

6.6cm (2.6in) - width
7.6cm (3in) - height
150ml - capacity

Condition: Excellent

This vintage Japanese item ships from Thailand

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