A Cup Born from Darkness and Light — Shino Wood-Fired Chawan

A Cup Born from Darkness and Light

This distinctive Shino wood-fired teacup is unlike anything produced in a conventional kiln. Brooding and luminous at once, its surface is a collision of deep purples, dark mahogany, mossy green, and flashes of iridescent silver-white — all conjured by fire, ash, and time. It is a cup that commands attention.

Glaze & Surface

The exterior is richly textured with a heavily crawled and blistered glaze in deep plum, dark brown, and forest green, punctuated by dramatic white ash deposits that streak and pool across the surface. The glaze has a wet, almost molten quality in places, as if frozen mid-movement. The interior opens to a stunning contrast: a luminous pool of pale silvery-white glaze at the base, ringed by teal and rust, catching light like still water.

Form & Feel

• Wide, open chawan-inspired bowl form with a dramatically sculptural, pinched exterior
• Distinctive raised foot — angular and hand-cut, giving the cup an elevated, ceremonial presence
• Irregular, organic rim shaped entirely by hand
• Compact and palm-sized, with a satisfying weight and excellent heat retention
• Unglazed foot ring reveals the raw dark stoneware clay body

Ceremony in Every Sip

The footed form of this cup elevates it — literally and figuratively. Inspired by the chawan tradition of Japanese tea ceremony, it transforms the act of drinking tea into something intentional and meditative. Whether used for gongfu cha, matcha, or simply a quiet morning cup, this piece brings a sense of ritual to the everyday.

A collector's piece and a daily companion — 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.