Shino・Stoneware・Wood-fired・Knife-cut

Tea bowls in Zhang Yun Cheng’s Shino Cloud series were first hand-thrown, then shaped with a series of knife-cuts to create their unique geometric facets. A final turn on the wheel smoothed away the angularity, giving the bowls a comfortable rounded profile.

This particular bowl has a thick coating of shino glaze on both its interior and exterior surfaces. The ceramicist exactly controlled the bowl’s long five-day wood-firing to create a crawling effect on the glaze, wherein the molten glaze pools together on the bowl’s clay surface. In this bowl, that crawling effect created curds of glaze that are reminiscent of tightly packed cirrocumulus clouds. Specks of carbon trapped in the glaze enhance the effect. Wood-firing also lends the shino a golden sheen and a warm matte appearance on the bowl’s interior surfaces. The iridescent, metallic patina is from the tea-seasoned finish.

This bowl has the perfect weight in hand. The weight, smooth glaze, and wall thickness lead to effortless all day sipping.

Approximate dimensions: 90mm tall, 105mm diameter, 350ml・Artist: 張允澄

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.