The Coral Reef — Shino Wood-Fired Teacup

The Coral Reef

This cup looks as though it was pulled from the ocean floor and fired into permanence. Every surface — inside and out — is blanketed in a vivid, densely crawled white Shino glaze that has broken and blistered into thousands of irregular nodules, like coral growing on ancient rock, or salt crystals forming on a dry lakebed, or the cracked surface of a glacier seen from above. Deep olive-green and iron-grey show through the cracks and crevices, grounding the composition in the earth. It is a cup of distinctive texture — one that demands to be touched.

Glaze & Surface

The exterior is entirely covered in a thick, heavily crawled white Shino glaze — broken into dense, irregular nodules that stand proud of the surface, creating a three-dimensional texture of remarkable complexity. Deep olive-green and dark iron-grey show through the gaps between the nodules, where the clay body and underlying glaze have been exposed by the crawling. The effect is simultaneously geological and organic — like the surface of a coral reef, a salt flat, or a patch of lichen on ancient stone. The rim is raw and uneven, with the glaze thickening and blistering at the edges. The interior continues the same crawled white glaze, with deep iron-brown and dark grey showing through at the base — a warm, earthy counterpoint to the white exterior.

Form & Feel

• Wide, low chawan form with an irregular, hand-shaped rim — raw and powerful
• Substantial weight with excellent heat retention
• Deeply three-dimensional exterior texture — unlike anything else to hold
• Warm, textured interior — earthy and grounding

The Crawled Glaze

The distinctive crawled texture of this cup forms when the glaze contracts more than the clay during firing — pulling away from the surface and breaking into islands and nodules. Achieving this effect with the density and regularity seen here requires precise control of glaze thickness, firing temperature, and atmosphere. It is one of the most technically demanding and visually striking effects in wood-fired pottery — and one that is entirely unrepeatable.

For the collector who values texture above all else. A cup that is as distinctive to hold as it is to look at. One of a kind, 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.