This Hagi-yaki (萩焼) tea cup embodies the quiet elegance and organic warmth for which Hagi ware is celebrated. Its softly rounded form and milky, pale glaze reveal subtle gradients of clay and kiln effects. 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.
The distinctive 切足 (kiri-ashi), or “cut foot,” is a hallmark of Hagi craftsmanship—an intentional trimming that creates a small opening in the foot ring. This design not only lightens the visual weight of the vessel but gives the impression that it gently floats above the surface it rests on.
True to the wabi-sabi aesthetic, the cup embraces irregularities: the gentle warp of the rim, the nuanced glaze pooling, the faint crackle patterns, and the earthy transitions of tone. Each feature speaks to impermanence and natural beauty, capturing a moment in the firing process that can never be repeated. The result is a cup that feels both grounded and ethereal—an invitation to appreciate subtlety, craftsmanship, and the quiet poetry of everyday tea.
