Nerikomi Wave Pattern Mug

This mug is handcrafted by Tetsuo Nagae, a renowned ceramic artist based in Seto City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan—one of the country’s most historic pottery regions with nearly 1,000 years of tradition. So closely tied to ceramics is Seto that the word “setomono” has long been used in Japan to mean pottery itself.

Nagae specializes in the Nerikomi (kneaded clay) technique, in which carefully prepared colored clays are layered, cut, and assembled to create patterns that run through the entire body of the piece. This process is often compared to cutting Kintaro candy, where each slice reveals a complete and unique design.

This mug features a flowing wave (nami) pattern, inspired by the natural movement of water. In Japanese aesthetics, wave motifs symbolize continuity, rhythm, and the quiet power of nature. Here, the motif is expressed through soft, undulating lines that evoke gentle currents and subtle motion.

Rather than being painted on the surface, the pattern is created by precisely laminating multiple layers of colored clay, resulting in a design that runs through the entire body of the mug. This gives the piece not only visual depth, but also structural integrity and lasting beauty.

Because the layered joints are extremely delicate, the piece is dried slowly over several weeks, then carefully scraped and polished by hand to reveal the intricate Nerikomi pattern beneath the surface.

As each mug is handmade, no two are exactly alike. Subtle variations in color, pattern, and form are a natural result of the Nerikomi process and a hallmark of authentic Seto ware.