Shino-glazed stoneware・Cobalt・Wood-fired

We’ve long admired Taiwanese artist Yang Guo Bin, and 2019 marks our first year carrying his work. Lined up, there is a musicality to this series of small tea bowls. Some are squat and low profiled, like heavy whole notes, and some rise tall, with the grace and flair of a lone eight note.

The texture of each bowl varies greatly, forming a sort of catalog for the diversity of results possible in a wood fire kiln. The thickly applied shino glaze features exaggerated crawling in places, mimicking the toasted exterior of marshmallows. Some are highly crazed, others glass-like and translucent in places, or cloudy and bubbled, the wood ash forming crystalline fields across the surface of the glaze. The intensely groggy clay body, mixed in the artist's studio, encourages dark iron “beauty marks” and veining.

Sweeping strokes of oxide wash and hand-carved faceting tie this series together. These bowls are both tactilely and visually stunning, and we are thrilled to finally be presenting Yang Guo Bin’s work here at Song.

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, mild detergent is ok.

Approximate dimensions: 70mm tall, 88mm diameter, 200ml capacity・Artist: 楊國賓