Vintage item, never used. This elegant set of five Mino-yaki (美濃焼) yunomi tea cups embodies the quiet beauty and practicality that have defined Japanese everyday ceramics for centuries. Finished in a soft misty grey glaze with subtle horizontal wheel-thrown lines, the cups reveal a calm, understated aesthetic rooted in traditional Japanese craftsmanship.
Each yunomi is carefully shaped with a gently rounded silhouette that sits naturally in the hand, while the contrast between the smooth pale glaze and the exposed reddish-brown clay foot creates a warm, earthy balance. Slight variations in form, glaze flow, and firing tones give every cup its own unique character, reflecting the handmade nature of the set.
Produced in the historic ceramic region of Mino, located in present-day Gifu Prefecture, Mino-yaki has a history spanning over 1,300 years and remains one of Japan’s most influential pottery traditions. The region became especially renowned during the Momoyama period, when celebrated tea wares such as Shino-yaki, Oribe-yaki, and Setoguro emerged from its kilns. Today, Mino ware is admired for combining traditional craftsmanship with functional beauty suited to daily life.
The soft grey glaze of this set recalls the quiet elegance often associated with classic Japanese tea aesthetics—simple, natural, and deeply calming. Their versatile size makes them ideal for green tea, roasted hōjicha, genmaicha, or even small servings of sake.
Size: 6.5 x 6.5 x 7cm
