Porcelain・Flashing slip・Shino

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.

Turn this bowl and the tectonic plates of the earth seem to shift and settle anew. A blush of orange flame licks one side of the bowl, overlapped with glassy greens and whites. Wood ash has landed on the bowl, speckling the lip, and smoothing over craters, not unlike volcanoes once shaped the topography of our earth.

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: 82mm tall, 110mm diameter, 350ml・Artist: 廖國華