The Sandstone Cup — Shino Wood-Fired Teacup

The Sandstone Cup — Depth in Every Grain

Hold this cup and you will understand it immediately. The surface is not smooth — it is alive with texture, every millimetre covered in fine mineral particles fused into the iron-black glaze during the wood firing: white, grey, and sand-coloured specks packed densely across the full exterior, like the cross-section of a stone formed over millennia. It is a cup that rewards touch as much as sight.

Glaze & Surface: The exterior carries a deep iron-black and dark brown glaze as its base, into which a dense field of fine white and sand-grey mineral particles has fused during the wood firing. The particles vary in size — some fine as dust, others gathered into small clusters — giving the surface an organic, geological character rather than a manufactured pattern. In the upper portion of the cup, the heat and kiln atmosphere have produced a soft blue-grey metallic sheen, adding luminosity to what might otherwise be simply dark. The rim is smooth and even, with a thin line of iron-brown at the lip. The interior is a warm, dark iron-brown — clean, functional, and quiet.

Form & Feel:

• Full egg-shaped form — round and wide at the belly, gently narrowing toward the rim
• Inward-curving rim — the opening is slightly smaller than the widest point, creating a contained, cupped feeling
• 200g weight — light and comfortable for extended holding
• Highly tactile exterior — the mineral texture is very satisfying to hold
• Small unglazed foot ring — dark stoneware, neat and stable

For the Art of Tea: The inward rim and egg-shaped form concentrate aroma beautifully, making this cup particularly well suited to high-fragrance teas — light oolongs, dancong, jasmine, or aged white tea. The contained opening holds heat and scent together. Warm the cup before pouring and notice how the mineral surface comes alive in your hands.

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.