Floral Carving Japanese Tea Set

Finished in shidei (purple clay) hue with a calm, understated sheen, this Banko ware teapot and two teacups set comes from a historic pottery region neighboring Tokoname, long regarded as one of Japan’s centers for fine tea ware.

Each piece is thrown on the potter’s wheel and finished with precise, balanced lines. The surface is decorated using a traditional technique called biri: as the wheel turns, the potter carves the clay with a small plane, creating fine, rhythmic grooves that catch the light. Delicate floral motifs are added by hand, gently framing the carved pattern rather than overwhelming it.

The teapot lid fits the body with remarkable accuracy, tracing the outline of the floral form—an alignment that speaks to a craftsperson who has devoted years specifically to making teapots. It features a built-in ceramic strainer that gently draws out the tea leaves’ aroma and umami for a smooth, well-rounded cup. This is not just a tea set, but a vessel where clay, technique, and history come together to accompany quiet moments of tea.

The set is presented in a high-quality wooden box, finished with hand-brushed calligraphy on the lid. The overall impression is composed and refined, making it a piece that feels at home in a thoughtful interior. It is a set to enjoy yourself, and just as fitting as a considered gift for someone special.

Masaki Kiln

Tachi Masaki is a master of traditional craft, specializing in Banko ware kyusu teapots. In his early twenties, he received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry prize and was hailed as a “prodigy” in ceramics. Since then, he has preserved the traditions of Banko ware while creating works attuned to contemporary sensibilities.

His Banko ware teapots are made from iron-rich red clay that turns deep blue-black in a reduction firing, then re-oxidizes into the shidei (purple clay) hue. His work is recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Yokkaichi for its superb craftsmanship.

Yokkaichi Banko-Ware

Von alltäglichem Geschirr bis hin zu Blumenvasen ist Yokkaichi Banko-Ware, allgemein als Banko-Ware bezeichnet, für ihre bemerkenswerte Vielfalt bekannt. Zu den bekanntesten Kreationen gehört die donabe, oder japanischer Tontopf. Er ist wegen seiner Haltbarkeit und Wärmespeicherung beliebt und ist zu einem Grundnahrungsmittel für hausgemachte Mahlzeiten geworden – und heute sind rund 80 Prozent aller in Japan produzierten Donabe Banko-Ware.

Banko-Keramik entstand in der Mitte der Edo-Zeit (1603–1868 n. Chr.), als ein kultivierter Teeliebhaber namens Nunami Rozan im heutigen Kuwana in der Präfektur Mie mit der Herstellung von Keramik begann. Anstatt die Ware nach ihrer Region zu benennen, wählte er das Wort „Banko„“ – was „Ewigkeit“ bedeutet – als Wunsch, dass seine Kreationen über Generationen hinweg Bestand haben. Dieser beständige Geist lebt bis heute weiter, und in Anerkennung seines kulturellen und historischen Werts wurde Banko-Ware 1979 vom japanischen Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Handel und Industrie zum traditionellen Kunsthandwerk erklärt.