Seong-Il Chawan

I now have my very own piece of Korean Hagi, and I am loving it.  This cream white piece that is already starting to stain wonderfully.  It is also a classic rice bowl shape, very similar to the Ido style teabowls that are so renown.

My biggest pet peeve on this bowl, which granted I have not fully tested to see if it is actually more my new chasen rather than the bowl itself.  In all honesty all Chawans I have used previously have had a rather flat bottom, and this bowl shaped bottom is so rounded, I have been having an incredibly hard time whisky my matcha. Although I have only tried using my new 80 prong ( instead of 100 prong) chasen.

So more on this piece, feels great in hand, uses Buncheong Clay.  Amazingly enough this is one of the few glazed pieces I have seen that almost actively seems to pull water underneath the clay, and in fact just having water sitting in the bowl the cracks will darken.

Non-traditional Korean Teaware

It has been said about Korean teaware that there are the traditional celedon type glazes, with traditional "kyusu" type designs, and then there is the new wave of Korean Teaware Artisans, which take their influence from a wide variety of area's. Seong-il is one of those new more revolutionary teaware artisans in Korea.

First off this little addition to my order, a what I can only believe is a lid rest, at least that is what I am using it for. While I think it might have been a slightly defective piece due to inconsistencies in the glaze on top, the wonderful flower design surely makes this a well loved treasure.

And I have wanted a wood fired teapot ever since I saw some amazing wood fired Kyusu's. While this only has a little bit of the effect I believe it has a "Salt Shino" on it which while glazed gives the outside of the pot a rather natural clay like outside to the teapot.

These two Shino cups are really starting to open my eyes to Shino, and how great it can be. These basically look like Child versions of the Chicago Potter Pink Shino Yunomi, and I may just do a side by side comparison of both of them as a post on this blog in the future.

So as I try and focus this blog on, what I have been learning about pottery though acquireing these pieces. And While this is a bit of a focus on the differences between Traditional and Non-traditional teaware, I felt I should include a picture of what I can believe is rather traditional for Korean teaware.

Clearly these offer two completely different styles.

But the biggest thing I learned had to have been the wonders of Shino, just from the little peak through the window I got to see.

Pristine or used?

Sen No Rikyu is quoted as saying "The value of a piece of teaware depends on its ability to make good tea." That being said, I feel there is a large emphasis in Western cultures put on having pristine looking ceramics among many other things. While of course I want to eat from clean plates and drink from clean glasses, I am comforted when something shows its use.

From Seven Stages of Hagi

Hagi yaki, and Korean ceramics are quite well known for the effect pictured above. When I see something like that, I personally feel "this cup has experienced tea as I have experienced it, and has stories to tell." I almost feel like the cup is an allegory for experience, this cup remembers a little bit each sip taken from it, it shows its been through quite a bit.

In contrast to pristine teaware, such as constantly washed and scrubbed porcelain. While they to might have stories to tell, I feel like when they get thoroughly cleaned, it is almost as if their memories are being completely wiped clean.

Granted a clean piece of ceramic can still look great, and show the care the creator put into its creation.

From Hagi yaki

But after extensive use, it develops in my mind so much more character.

From Seven Stages of Hagi

Again this is all personal preference, but I love my heavily used looking pieces.

Admiring Korean Teaware

So I added to my teaware collection with some Korean teaware, thinking it would be a rather safe bet as Hagi yaki supposedly got its start from Korean Potters, and many of the forms in Japanese pottery come from Korean ceramic inspiration.

I really must say the sizing on this 3 person set is impeccable, the water cooler when full to the base of the spout holds just enough to fill the teapot, which holds just enough to fill the cups nearly to the top. Which is amazing regarding the sizes of all the pieces look completely off, mainly the teapot looks on the small side compared to the water cooler and cups.

After two uses the crackling on these pieces are already starting to change color, and somehow the piece feels so incredibly natural in hand. I am sure you can look forward to many more updates on korean teaware, and how this piece is changing.