Tenmoku & Jian Bowls

[teatray]

Ordered a second Yoshinori Izumi sake cup (these ones are called Ryusei/Meteor). It had become a favorite for the small pots of oolong I'm currently drinking, but I didn't have anything comparable when serving two people. Asahido in Kyoto had one (they ship internationally). It listed exactly the right dimensions and the photo looked very similar, but I got a much wider and shallower version (+1cm diameter, -1cm height compared to my old one). It has these spots that are also present on the other Ryusei cup further up this thread (but not on my old one). Can't exactly complain, I guess, but I will have to zenly serve in two differently shaped meteor cups.

[teatray]

In the end, I was lucky I got a non-matching cup. I learned that I prefer the flatter shape. Then Asahido sent me photos of all the Meteor cups they have stocked. (Replacement was one of the options they offered, considering the cup was pretty far from spec.) I ended up keeping the flat cup and getting another one that is particularly beautiful. It has an irregular flow and a beautiful kiss from the fire, browning one side, subtly on the inside, flashy on the outside (yohen/kiln-changed, in the non-tenmoku-specific sense). Both remind of the view from a spaceship. One is in deep space, close to a black hole. The other is near a star, shining bright from one side.

[Ethan Kurland]

... and a beautiful kiss from the fire, browning one side, subtly on the inside, flashy on the outside (yohen/kiln-changed, in the non-tenmoku-specific sense). Both remind of the view from a spaceship. One is in deep space, close to a black hole. The other is near a star, shining bright from one side.

You write beautifully. Thanks for posting.

[debunix]

Gorgeous bowls. I’m sure they add a lot to drinking pleasure.