Mukuhara Kashun 椋原佳俊 - White Kairagi Hagi-yaki Yunomi - 300ml

This large Hagi-yaki yunomi (teacups) is made from a vibrant red Hagi mishima clay and thrown in a classic cylindrical form with subtle facets. The cup is covered in a straw ash glaze which is black when applied but devitrifies in the kiln, turning it a thick, milky white. The striking texture produced as the glaze crawled away from the clay body is called kairagi (かいらぎ/梅花皮 - plum flower texture) and it has been a praised feature on Korean teaware and later on Hagi-yaki wares.

This cup, made by Mukuhara Kashun (椋原佳俊) of Tsubakihide Kiln (椿秀窯) comes in a kiribako (桐箱 - paulownia wood box) signed by the artist.

Please note that due to the organic nature of hand-throwing and glazing, there are variations between pieces, with each cup being unique in shape and design. 


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:

9.5cm (3.7in) - width
8.3cm (3.3in) - height
300ml - capacity

Condition: New

This Japanese item ships from the United States.