Glazed stoneware・Wood-fired

A distinct reverence for tea drinking drives the work of Taiwanese master potter, Zhang Yun Cheng. His home sits in the hills of Nantou County, surrounded on all sides by tea gardens, a rich tableau of green and misty grey. In his latest series for Song Tea, the relationship between craft, culture, and context is directly reflected in the surface of the pots. A lustrous patina catches in the light, the result of post-firing seasoning in tea.

A small series of tea cups, dipped in flashing slip then offered up to the flames of the wood fired kiln. Over the course of five days, ash hits these pieces in waves, creating a vitrified, glaze-like surface, rich with auburn and gold tones, and heavy carbon trapping along the rims. Each piece is unique, yet read together as a set. One for you, two for company, three for a post-vaccine tea party.

About Tea Bowls

In Taiwan, tea bowls are often used to drink loose leaf tea. 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. Fill the bowl 2/3 of the way to the top. Pour a steady stream of water over the leaves to help them settle to the bottom. Steep until leaves have just opened. Sip, and add more water if necessary.

Usage and care: Hand-wash only, without soap or detergent.

Approximate dimensions: 65mm tall, 85mm diameter, 180ml・Artist: 張允澄