






- Type
- Setoguro
- Details
- A vessel for drinking matcha, the Setoguro chawan is a high-class tea bowl that dates back approximately 450 years and is considered a rare and elusive masterpiece. This traditional Japanese ware holds a unique value within the aesthetic principles of wabi-sabi, embodying Japan's distinctive sense of beauty.
- Materials
- Mogusa clay (rare clay)
- Size
- φ135mm
- Height
- 108 mm
- Weight
- About 500g
- Texture
- The Setoguro piece is distinguished by its remarkable texture, highlighting the rare Oniita glaze used in its creation. It features a smooth and moist feel, with a unique kairagi (crawling glaze) surface. This combination offers a pleasant grip, almost as if it adheres to the hand, and provides a sense of familiarity and comfort when held.
Features of this piece
A Setoguro (瀬戸黒) chawan in techniques some 450 years old, from a time when black was prized as a noble color. Its captivating black sets off the deep green of 抹茶, bringing a calm to every sip. Warm in the hand and soft to the touch, it is a bowl made to slow a busy day and settle a restless mind.
Expected to ship within 10 business days from the date of order
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Setoguro
One from one kiln
Setoguro is renowned for its captivating, deep black color. Achieving this beautiful black involves using a glaze made from Oniita (iron-rich clay) mixed with ash. The piece is fired at high temperatures and then removed from the kiln while still hot, followed by rapid cooling—a technique known as "hikidashi-guro." This process was employed over 450 years ago and produced the elusive "Setoguro" ware for only about 30 years in the world of tea. In the tea ceremony, Setoguro is revered for its unique aesthetic value within the Japanese principles of wabi-sabi. By extracting the piece from a kiln over 1,100 degrees Celsius and cooling it quickly, the piece transforms into a deep black while producing beautiful cracking sounds (kan-nyu) as it cools. Only up to three pieces can be fired in one kiln at a time, and achieving a satisfying black is extremely challenging. It is said that getting one satisfactory piece from a single kiln firing is considered a success.
Rest for the heart - Setoguro
In a busy life, finding time just for yourself is harder than it seems. That is why a pause to stop and whisk a bowl of tea can quietly settle the heart. The black of Setoguro is a black that draws the light deep inside. Held in the hands, its depth seems to still even the noise around you. Whisked matcha turns a clear, vivid green against this black, leaving a little space to breathe, for the eyes and for the heart. The glossy black rests softly in the hand, and its gentleness at the lips loosens whatever has been held tight. A Setoguro chawan that Kato Takaya brought into being one bowl at a time. For a quiet moment, a little apart from the rush of the day.
Suitable for
Care
Please wash by hand using a soft sponge or cloth when cleaning. Please refrain from using abrasive sponges for cleaning.
Please note