Unglazed Stoneware・5 day wood-fired

This teabowl uses a nearly 50/50 mixture of an iron-rich American clay with a lighter colored Taiwanese clay. The result is a clay body with contrasting ribbons of color. The bowl was hand-thrown, and continuously fired in a wood-burning kiln for 5 days.

Distinguishing this bowl from others in the collection are the intense kiln effects and scarring on the bowl’s surface.

This is a medium tea bowl, slightly wider on top and on the bottom, with a taper towards a shallow foot. The artist’s signature carved on the bottom finishes the bowl. The contrasting color bands are visible on the side and underside. This bowl was pre-seasoned by the artist, simmered in tea for several days to give it a rich patina and sheen.

About Tea Bowls

In Japan, tea bowls are traditionally used to drink whisked powdered tea (matcha). In Taiwan, they are often used to drink loose leaf tea. We've adopted this latter approach. It's quite simple - and works wonders on most of our teas.

Simply warm a tea bowl, add tea leaves, and add water. We suggest using 1 to 2 grams less tea than our normal recommended dosage, and filling the bowl 2/3 of the way to the top. Adding a slow steady stream of the water over the leaves also help the leaves settle to the bottom. Steep until leaves have just opened. Sip, and add more water if necessary.

Drinking tea from a bowl is both casual, and elegant. It's also a very personal and comforting experience.

Approximate dimensions: 65mm tall, 95mm diameter, 260ml volume・Artist: 廖國華