This elegant Hagi-yaki (萩焼) tea cup embodies the serene beauty and natural warmth characteristic of Japan’s celebrated pottery tradition from Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
The piece displays a graceful gradient of soft glazes, transitioning from a cool pale gray near the rim to a delicate rosy pink and warm straw-beige at the base. This subtle color shift — known in Hagi ware as “Hagi no nanabake” (萩の七化け) — beautifully captures the kiln’s natural variations, ensuring no two pieces are ever alike.
A fine network of kan-nyū (貫入) crackling runs across the surface, giving the glaze depth and texture that will continue to develop and darken with use, enhancing its wabi-sabi charm over time.
At the bottom, the distinctive 切足 (kiri-ashi) or “cut foot” design not only reflects Hagi’s traditional kiln craftsmanship but also provides a sense of lightness — as if the vessel gently floats above the surface. Aligning with the wabi-sabi aesthetic — beauty found in imperfection, transience, and natural irregularity.
Every element of this yunomi — from its softly shifting glaze to the unpretentious yet refined silhouette — expresses the quiet philosophy of Hagi ware: natural beauty, humility, and transformation through use.
