This elegant mug is thrown from a textured Uji stoneware, draped in an oak ash glaze. The ash glaze exhibits subtle shifts in its cool grey hue along with prominent crazing which will develop further with use. This mug is ideal for slowly sipping on freshly brewed houjicha or even coffee.

Before using it for the first time, it is recommended to soak the piece in water for 10 minutes. This will dislodge any dust from the clay as well as slow down the natural development of patina in the glaze.

This mug was made by the skilled craftsmen at the Asahi-yaki studio and wood-fired in their climbing kiln.

Asahi-yaki (朝日焼) are a world-renowned pottery studio located at the foot of Mt. Asahi in Uji. Their founder produced wares for the tea ceremony in the late 16th-early 17th centuries, at the height of chanoyu’s artistic development, and his works were loved by chajin Kobori Enshū (who succeeded Furuta Oribe and Sen-no-Rikyū as leading tea master). Since then, Asahi-yaki have continued to make wares that capture Enshū’s aesthetic philosophy of ‘Kirei-Sabi’, which is a more refined take on Rikyū’s ‘Wabi(-sabi)’.

Today, they are headed by 16th generation potter Matsubayashi Hōsai XVI who leads his studio in producing wares for both the Japanese tea ceremony and for the brewing of loose-leaf teas. They continue to use local Uji clay, mined from the surrounding hills, which they call ‘hanshi’. Since the 8th generation master, they also make sencha and gyokuro wares out of porcelain from Kyūshu.

Dimensions:

10.3cm (4.1in) - width
8.7cm (3.4in) - height
220ml - capacity

Condition: New

This Japanese item ships from the United States.