Image 1 of 20
Image 2 of 20
Image 3 of 20
Image 4 of 20
Image 5 of 20
Image 6 of 20
Image 7 of 20
Image 8 of 20
Image 9 of 20
Image 10 of 20
Image 11 of 20
Image 12 of 20
Image 13 of 20
Image 14 of 20
Image 15 of 20
Image 16 of 20
Image 17 of 20
Image 18 of 20
Image 19 of 20
Image 20 of 20
What makes these cups special
The up close look and feel
The dark cup is dense and cool in the hand. The texture is what catches the light depending on how you hold it. The rim carries a thin cream-white line.
The brown cup is the opposite. Pick it up and look inside. A single drip of olive-green sweeps down one wall and pools toward near-black at the base, glossy where the exterior is matte.
The width also makes them natural for a small snack alongside tea or sake: a few nuts, a piece of wagashi, whatever you put next to the cup. In Japan this form is used freely across all three.
Charming details
The inside of the brown cup is the detail you only find when you look in. Inside, a single ribbon of olive-green glaze has run down from the rim and pooled at the base.
This is temmoku: a deliberate glaze drip that requires precise control of temperature and timing in the kiln: too hot and it runs off the foot, too cool and it stays a smear.
-
Style tradition: temmoku iron glaze (dark cup); iron and ash glaze with drip (brown cup).
Kyoto ceramic tradition: stoneware with iron glaze.
Both cups are wide and open in form, the shape that brings a drink to your lips slowly.
-
Ca. 1970s to 1980s, late Shōwa period; consistent with studio pottery production of that era
-
Diameter: approx. 10 cm each
Height: approx. 5 cm each
-
Excellent vintage condition.
The set appears barely used, no chips, cracks or repairs visible.
Glaze intact throughout.
-
Both cups are stoneware with iron glaze and wash easily by hand with mild soap and warm water.
Avoid prolonged soaking and dishwashers.
The iron glaze on the dark cup is dense and durable, but rapid temperature changes can cause crazing over time, so avoid moving directly from cold to very hot.
Pat dry rather than air-drying to prevent water marks in the interior.
*Decorative items such as the whisk are for styling
and scale purposes only and not included in the sale
Meet our other tea ceremony items
Questions before you buy?
Since my items are one-of-a-kind pieces, I want to ensure they reach you perfectly.
Questions about the history or condition?
Need a custom shipping quote or shipping outside the EU?
Prefer to see more detailed photos or a video?
Reach out to me directly. I'm here to help you find the perfect piece for your home.
✉️ hello@kaikoandco.com
💬 Instagram DM: @bykaikoandco
