Knife-cut Stoneware・Shino・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. While this tea bowl is unglazed, a lustrous patina catches in the light, the result of post-firing seasoning in tea.

This piece is covered in a thick coating of shino glaze that’s pulled and crawled from the heat of the five day firing. The effect is reminiscent of tightly packed cirrocumulus clouds, with specks of carbon trapped in the glaze enhancing the effect. The wood-firing contributes to the glaze’s golden sheen and a warm matte appearance on the bowl’s interior surfaces. Beneath the glaze, the pot seems to move, with gentle, sweeping facets that follow the potters wheel’s rotation.

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: 93mm tall, 110mm diameter, 380ml・Artist: 張允澄