Shino Cloud, No. 2

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 was glazed with shino, thinner on the exterior surfaces, and thicker inside the bowl. After a long five-day firing, the thin exterior glaze turns golden, punctuated by a small amount of glaze crawling. The glaze crawling is more dramatic on the interior, where the molten glaze formed islands on the clay surface giving it a cloud-like appearance. The metallic patina on the exterior comes from flame flashes during firing. An iridescence on the interior and exterior surfaces come from tea-seasoning by the artist.

The bowls in this collection are perfectly balanced in hand. The weight, smooth glaze, and wall thickness lead to effortless all day sipping.

Approximate dimensions: 90mm tall, 105mm diameter, 345ml・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.