This elegant Hagi-yaki (萩焼) yunomi tea cup is a refined example of traditional Japanese pottery, made by the Hagi potter Nakamura Shōdō 中村松堂. The cup features a beautifully balanced cylindrical form and a distinctive kiriashi (切足) foot—a cut, angular foot design often associated with tea wares influenced by the aesthetics of the tea ceremony.
The glaze displays a soft, atmospheric gradient of pale blue, ivory, and gentle blush tones, characteristic of Hagi ware. Fine kannyū (crackle) lines run subtly through the surface, inviting the piece to deepen in character over time as tea gradually seeps into the glaze—a treasured quality known as Hagi no nanabake (the “seven transformations” of Hagi ware).
Nakamura Shōdō is a Japanese ceramic artist known for working in the tradition of Hagi ware (萩焼), one of Japan’s most respected tea ceramics closely associated with the tea ceremony (chanoyu). His works are especially recognized for their calm forms, subtle glaze transitions, and refined yet understated craftsmanship.
The slightly irregular foot and warm clay body give the cup a natural, hand-crafted presence, while the smooth rim feels comfortable to the lips. It comes with its original signed wooden tomobako, attesting to the artist and the authenticity of the piece.
