Midnight Stardust Shinogi Mug

£45

This item is currently out of stock

We’re delighted to bring Japanese potter Aya Ogawa’s ceramics to the UK.

In Japanese there is a word 幸 (sachi) which translates as good fortune, and happy accidents. Aya’s craft embraces such serendipity, the unpredictability of nature and how it expresses itself differently for every piece. The unexpected expression of the cobalt glaze, because the kiln has changed, the season has changed, the atmosphere has changed, the makeup of the clay has changed. Each piece captures clay and nature at a certain time and place. Nature and pottery and the hand of the potter become inextricably intertwined.

Having studied under veteran potter Eric Landon, Aya now handcrafts each unique piece in her Tokyo studio. Aya applies an ancient technique of Japanese ‘shinogi’, whereby the surface of the clay is scraped away line by line to form ridges.

Measures approx. 8 cm tall. Colour change in batch from 11th June 2024 onwards.

We recommend washing by hand and drying out thoroughly after use. Japanese pottery such as this usually has tiny crevices on the surface, which absorb oil and food. It's usual to enjoy the piece changing as it ages, wabi-sabi of sorts. But if you prefer, use the 'medome' technique- presoaking in hot rice water before the first use- to prevent stains. Please do not use in the microwave or dishwasher. As each piece is individually handmade the colours may vary slightly from the image shown.

Presented in a gift box