Heart of Iron Fire — Shino Wood-Fired Chawan

Heart of Iron Fire — A Cup Forged in Flame

There are cups that whisper. This one speaks with the low, steady voice of a kiln at full heat. Dressed in a thick crust of iron-red and burnt ochre, its surface reads like the face of a meteorite — pitted, volcanic, and alive with the memory of fire. Hold it in both hands and feel the weight of something ancient and unhurried.

Glaze & Surface: The exterior is layered in a raw, heavily textured iron glaze ranging from deep russet and burnt sienna to golden ochre, scattered with countless kiln-born craters and mineral eruptions. Subtle flashes of blue-green iridescence emerge where copper minerals were caught in the wood ash atmosphere — brief, unexpected moments of colour in an otherwise elemental landscape. The rim is rimmed in a thin band of silvery-grey metallic glaze — smooth, cool, and luminous against the rough body. The interior glows in a deep, resonant iron-red — the colour of embers seen in near-darkness, warm and consuming.

Form & Feel:

• Full, rounded chawan form — wide-bellied and deeply inward-curving toward the rim
• Substantial 390g weight — grounding and meditative in the hands
• Thick walls with exceptional heat retention — tea stays warm longer
• Tactile, volcanic exterior surface — impossible not to touch
• Unglazed foot ring reveals the raw dark stoneware clay beneath

For the Art of Tea: The chawan form was born for tea ceremony — wide enough to whisk matcha, deep enough to hold warmth, heavy enough to demand your full attention. This piece brings an elemental, primal quality to the tea table. Whether you use it for gongfu cha, matcha, or a slow morning brew, it transforms each session into something deliberate and memorable.

One of a kind. Wood-fired in a single kiln firing. Never to be repeated.

Care

Suitable for contact with tea. Hand wash gently and avoid abrasive cleaners. Variations and firing marks are part of this one-of-a-kind handmade piece.