Handmade Pottery for Tea Ceremony

Handmade pottery for tea ceremony or just to enjoy. Traditional Japanese forms and glazes inspire this collection. The items are affordably priced, none over $300. Shipping and handling add approximately 20%. Free delivery on orders over $200.

About Tea Ceremony

Japanese Tea Ceremony, or Chanoyu, creates a context in which pottery can be appreciated and shared.  During tea ceremony, the host carries in the utensils, makes the tea, serves it, rinses the bowl, and passes it back to the guest for inspection and appreciation. As a student of Tea Ceremony, Michelle became familiar with many of the specialised shapes as they function within the practice of Chanoyu.

The tea bowl (chawan) is the most ordinary shape, and yet the requirements for its use in Chanoyu are surprisingly specific and difficult to meet. The bowl is lifted with the fingers tucked underneath, requiring a smallish foot, yet the bowl must remain steady while the tea is energetically whisked. The bowl's color must show the green color of the powdered tea to advantage. It's surface must be smooth enough to be wiped with a cloth. It must be thick enough that the heat of the boiled water does not penetrate and burn the fingers, yet it must not feel exceptionally heavy.  It must be big enough to have a generous feeling yet not so big that the tea is lost in it. The rim must feel good touching the lips, and the shape must be such that the tea can flow into the mouth without spilling. If it is a winter bowl it needs to be more enclosed than a summer bowl, which needs to be wider so the tea can cool faster.  The chawan must be  restrained and without excessive "ego" or self- consciousness.  Yet, with all these requirements, it is good if it has some personality all its own.

The fresh water jar (mizusashi) is approximately the size and shape of a cookie jar, but its function is very different. It is for transporting fresh cool water into the tea room, so that the kettle, already steaming on its hearth, can be refreshed and replenished. It must be light enough that it can be carried gracefully. The shape must be such that the water does not easily spill, yet the opening must be large enough for the bamboo dipper to fit in. The mizusashi must be deep enough that the dipper can easily be filled.

The waste water container (kensui) is a wide bowl whose function is to receive the water used to rinse the tea bowl once the tea has been consumed. It must be large enough to contain the rinse water of several bowls. It must be wide enough to pour into easily, yet shaped so that the waste water will not spill out when it is carried from the room.

The tea container (chaire) holds powdered green tea for the ceremony where thick tea is served. It traditionally has an ivory lid. (For the thin tea ceremony, the tea container (natsume) is made of lacquered wood.)

The ash bowl is used to carry special ashes to add to the charcoal arrangement in the brazier, where the kettle is heated.  

These are only some of the ceramic shapes used in Chanoyu.  There is so much more to learn about Chanoyu!  You can begin by visiting http://www.teahyakka.com/