The Universe in a Bowl — Shino Wood-Fired Chawan

The Universe in a Bowl

Wide, low, and visually substantial, this Shino wood-fired chawan is a distinctive piece from the kiln — a vessel whose exterior blazes with deep indigo, midnight blue, and burnt sienna in a dense, crawled glaze that resembles the surface of a distant planet, and whose interior reveals a layered mosaic of white, rust-red, and black — like the cracked surface of an ancient lakebed, or a map of a world that no longer exists.

Glaze & Surface

The exterior is covered in a strongly crawled and blistered glaze of deep cobalt blue, purple-brown, and dark teal — dense, three-dimensional, and richly textured, like the scales of a deep-sea creature or the surface of a meteorite. The glaze catches light from every angle, shifting between blue, violet, and bronze as you turn the cup. The rim is raw and irregular, encrusted with glaze that has bubbled and frozen mid-movement. The interior provides a clear contrast: a dramatic mosaic of large, irregular white islands separated by bold black crackle lines and washes of deep rust-red and amber — like a satellite view of a frozen tundra, or the surface of the moon.

Form & Feel

• Wide, low chawan form — generous and bowl-like, made to be cradled in both hands
• Substantial weight with excellent heat retention
• Heavily textured exterior — deeply tactile and grounding to hold
• Irregular, hand-shaped rim — raw and alive

What Makes This Piece Distinctive

The combination of the exterior's deep blue crawled glaze and the interior's bold mosaic crackle is unusual — the result of clay, glaze and kiln atmosphere interacting during this firing. This cup is a one-of-a-kind functional artwork: visually arresting, historically rooted in the Shino tradition, and specific to this firing.

For the collector who seeks the beauty in everyday objects. A cup that brings a strong visual presence to a tea session.

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.