Stoneware・Slip・Wood-fired

Liao Guo Hua’s studio and hand-built wood kiln perch on a pastoral hillside in Nantou, deep in the heart of Taiwanese tea country. This proximity is tangible in his work. His reverence for tea craft, history, and ritual can be seen in the minimal aesthetic of his forms. His pots honor the unpredictable and mysterious play of fire and ash inherent to wood kilns, and allow tea to take the center stage.

A tea bowl is the most tactile of all tea ware. Cupped in two hands, and raised repeatedly to the lips, ones fingers gain an intimate knowledge of its landscape. The curves and mounds of this bowl undulate and flow through a mixture of slip application and crawling in the heat of the kiln. This surface is punctuated by a single eye of iron, made molten, the perfect resting place for your thumb or index finger.

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: 80mm tall, 115mm diameter, 420ml・Artist: 廖國華