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 unique and complete design.
This mug features a flowing pattern inspired by asagao (morning glory), a flower long cherished in Japan as a symbol of summer mornings, fleeting beauty, and quiet elegance. Each small motif represents a single asagao blossom, repeated rhythmically across the surface to create a light, airy impression.
The asagao flowers are formed from layers of blue, blue-green, yellow, and soft gray clays, carefully kneaded and laminated to create subtle variations in tone. These gentle, muted colors enhance the calm, refreshing character of the design while allowing each blossom to remain distinct.
Rather than being painted on the surface, the pattern is created entirely through the Nerikomi technique, allowing the design to emerge naturally from within the clay body itself. As each mug is handmade, subtle variations in color and form are a natural part of the process and a hallmark of authentic Seto ware.
Comfortable to hold and well-balanced, this mug is ideal for coffee, tea, or everyday use, while also serving as a refined example of contemporary Japanese ceramic art rooted in tradition.
