Painted Oribe Glaze Yunomi Tea Cup

This pottery cup is designed in a rock-glass style and can be used for whiskey, sake, tea, or water.

This handcrafted rock cup is a fine example of Seto Akazu ware (瀬戸赤津焼), created at the esteemed Rokubei Kiln in Seto City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Shaped by hand on a potter's wheel using traditional Setoyaki (瀬戸焼) earthenware, it reflects the rich ceramic heritage of Seto ware, which dates back over 1,000 years.

The cup is finished in the E-Oribe (絵織部) style, literally "painted Oribe." A deep green Oribe glaze (織部釉) sweeps across one side, while the remaining surface is left in a pale ivory glaze and painted freehand with an iron-oxide design (tetsue 鉄絵) of grasses and blossoms, so no two cups are alike. Across this ivory ground runs a fine network of crackle lines known as kannyu (貫入), formed naturally as the glaze and clay body cool at different rates. In Japan these lines are valued rather than avoided, and they deepen in tone with years of use.

With its thick ceramic body and low, stable form, this rock cup is versatile and comfortable to hold, making it suitable for a wide range of drinks. In Japan, ceramic cups like this one are commonly used for shochu and sake as well as tea. The thickness of the clay holds the temperature of the drink and softens the feel against the lips, something glass and metal cannot offer.

Seto Akazu ware is recognized as a Certified Traditional Japanese Craft, and Rokubei Kiln is among its most respected studios, known for producing works for the Japan Pavilion at Expo Milano and the Ise-Shima G7 Summit.

The cup is delivered in the kiln's own wooden box, inscribed and sealed by Rokubei Kiln, ready for gifting or long-term storage.

Care: Because of the kannyu crackle, please wash by hand and avoid the dishwasher. Do not soak the cup for long periods, and dry it fully before storing. Not suitable for oven or direct flame.