A reverence for tea drives the work of Taiwanese master potter, Zhang Yun Cheng. His home sits in the hills of Nantou County, surrounded on all sides by tea gardens, a rich tableau of green and misty grey. Against this backdrop, the distinct relationship between craft and culture reflects back in each handmade piece.

With a gently curved profile this bowl cradles perfectly in two hands, subtle throw lines track the artist’s movement across the surface - a gesture recreated as your fingers naturally fall into the shallow spaces. No glaze was put on this piece before firing. Instead, the striking, dark patina that covers the surface of the form is the map of heat and flame vitrifying ash during the five day wood firing. Freckled iron spots and areas of crystallization across the piece are the result of the clay’s mineral content, blooming to the fore. These qualities create a vessel with visual gravity, belied by the balance and fit in the hand.

This bowl is one of a kind.

Usage and care: To wash, simply rinse between uses or hand scrub with mild detergent.