The Dark Ore Cup — Shino Wood-Fired Teacup

The Dark Ore Cup — Drawn from the Earth's Core

There are cups that whisper, and cups that hold their silence like a stone. This is the latter. Its surface is the colour of deep iron — black, brown, and grey folded together in the kiln's heat, scattered with hundreds of tiny mineral eruptions that catch the light like flecks of mica in ancient rock. It is a cup of considerable presence, and considerable depth.

Glaze & Surface: The exterior carries a dense, heavily textured iron glaze that shifts from near-black at the shoulder to deep iron-brown at the belly — rich, layered, and geological in character. Across this dark ground, countless small particles of ash and mineral have fused and crystallised into a fine constellation of grey, beige, and rust-red specks — evenly distributed, like star dust suspended in dark matter, or the surface of meteorite iron polished by time. The texture is notably rough and tactile; running a finger across it feels like touching ancient stone. The rim edge is thick and slightly irregular, ringed with a deep blue-black glaze that flows smoothly into the interior — a sudden shift in register. The interior opens into a dark, still blue-black — smooth, deep, and luminous, like the surface of a night lake reflecting nothing but sky.

Form & Feel:

• Full, rounded yunomi form — egg-shaped, wider at the base, narrowing gently toward the rim
• Thick walls and a substantial rim — solid and reassuring in the hands
• 310g weight — dense and grounding
• Smooth blue-black interior contrasts dramatically with the rough, mineral-encrusted exterior
• Small, unglazed foot ring — dark stoneware, raw and minimal

For the Art of Tea: The dark interior makes this cup particularly beautiful for light-coloured teas — white tea, green tea, or a pale gold oolong will glow against the deep blue-black glaze. Hold it in both hands and feel the weight of it: substantial, quiet, entirely present. A cup for those who prefer their beauty dark.

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.