A nesting Japanese tea set in black clay, handmade by Nankei Pottery in Yokkaichi. A handleless houhin teapot holds two small cups inside it, so a complete tea ritual packs into one compact form, ready for home, a picnic or a weekend away.
"Ireko" is the traditional Japanese art of nesting objects within one another. The houhin is left unglazed inside, where the fine irregularities of the clay reduce astringency for a mellow, delicious cup, and the high-fired clay resists odours, so it suits a range of teas. Designed for gyokuro and sencha at lower temperatures (up to 70°C), its treasure-bottle shape lets premium leaves open fully to release their umami, while the built-in ceramic strainer gives a clear, leaf-free pour. The cups are glazed grey inside, and the unglazed black exterior has a matte, non-slip feel, like a smooth riverbed stone.
Also available in sand.
Details
- Maker: Nankei Pottery
- Material: natural black clay
- Set includes: houhin teapot and two nesting cups
- Capacity: houhin approx. 120ml; cups approx. 50ml and 30ml
- Measurements: houhin approx. 11.5 × 9 × 6 cm high
- Houhin finish: unglazed inside and out
- Cup finish: unglazed exterior, grey glazed interior
- As each piece is handcrafted, sets may differ slightly from piece to piece
- Made in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, Japan
- Care: hand wash only; not dishwasher or microwave safe
Explore more Nankei Pottery Japanese ceramics.
To pour, start at a gentle angle and gradually tilt the houhin.
As this piece is unglazed, oil stains can occur more easily than on glazed ceramics, but they can usually be removed with a little detergent and a brush.
Because the houhin is unglazed and crafted from raw, mineral-rich earth, you may notice subtle orange blushes or tiny dark iron spots on the surface. These are not defects, but the natural mineral colours of the clay reacting to the high heat of the kiln. Each piece is a unique record of its firing, carrying the honest fingerprints of the Japanese landscape.
