Vintage item, never used. A beautiful Japanese Karatsu ware (唐津焼) tea cup set, featuring five matching cups finished in a soft tama-yū glaze (玉釉). Each cup is covered in a luminous celadon-like green glaze, with subtle horizontal variations and fine crackling that give the surface a gentle, handcrafted depth.
The restrained green glaze is beautifully contrasted by the warm reddish-brown exposed clay around the foot. Visible throwing rings on the bases emphasize the pottery's wheel-thrown character, while slight variations in glaze tone and texture make each cup subtly individual.
Karatsu ware originates from Saga Prefecture in Kyushu and is one of Japan's most celebrated ceramic traditions, historically admired for its natural materials, understated decoration, and intimate relationship with tea culture. Rather than seeking perfect uniformity, Karatsu pottery is appreciated for the individual expression created through clay, glaze, firing, and the potter's hand.
The cups have a simple, gently rounded form that feels both rustic and refined. Their fresh jade-green colouring makes this set particularly attractive for serving Japanese tea, while the original fitted box makes it equally appealing as a collectible example of vintage Japanese tableware.
