東山堂　煎茶器店

Bizenware Hidasuki teapot A (130ml)

Name: Bizenware Hidasuki teapot A (130ml)
Brand: 東山堂 煎茶器店
SKU: 45464426184985
Availability: InStock

¥22,000 JPY

Sale Sold out

This is a Hidasuki teapot by Hosokawa Takahiro. This teapot is made from Bizen clay and has a Chinese-style backhand shape. It has just the right capacity for brewing Chinese or Taiwanese tea.

Mr. Hosokawa specializes in pieces that make use of the natural texture of the clay to express the Bizen earth. His style is powerful and dynamic, not limited by traditional Bizen ware expression.

The details of the lid and spout are very carefully designed. He has dozens of clay blends and continues to explore Bizen clay. He is a notable artist whose popularity is increasing in mainland China, with his works selling out every time he holds a solo exhibition in Beijing.

(Biography of Mr. Hosokawa Takahiro)

Born in Okayama Prefecture in 1979.

Graduated from the Bizen Ceramic Art Center in 1999. Studied pottery making under his grandfather Takemura Eiraku.

2015 Tokyo American Club Frederick Harris Gallery

2016 Solo exhibition at Beijing Suzuki Shoten (2017, 2019)

2019 Selected for the Tabe Museum of Art Tea Ceremony Art Exhibition

Bizen ware is pottery that expresses itself with earth and fire. It is said that preparing clay accounts for more than half of the work involved in Bizen ware, so preparing clay is very important task.

Bizen has soils of various colors and properties, and artists search for clay that suits their work. Bizen soil has coarse particles, making it difficult to make complex shapes like teapots. For this reason, Bizen ware tea utensils are mostly matcha bowls, lidded bowls, and Houhin, and there are very few teapots.

Bizen soil contains iron. According to a survey on Bizen ware kiln changes (the 3rd Okayama Studies Symposium, by Kazuhiro Yamaguchi, Okayama University of Science), the iron content of Bizen soil is about 2-3%.

The iron combines with tannins, which are the bitter taste components of tea. Therefore, tea brewed in a teapot made from Bizen clay has a smoother taste with less bitterness.

We once held a tasting event in Hong Kong using Bizen ware teapots. The tasting was lively, with many people saying that when brewing Pu-erh ripe tea, the tea tasted especially smooth. Since taste perception varies from person to person, it is difficult to make a general statement, but it certainly does taste smoother.

We feel that Bizen teapots make tea taste smoother than Tokoname red clay teapots. Tokoname red clay has an iron content of about 5-6%, while Bizen clay has an iron content of about 2-3%, so if we look only at the iron content, Tokoname red clay should be more likely to combine with tannins.

The reason tea brewed in a Bizen ware teapot tastes smoother is probably because Bizen clay has large particles and there are voids in the clay even after firing, which allows it to absorb more bitterness. In other words, We think that it is the size of the clay particles and the amount of iron that affect the taste of tea. The clay from Bizen has larger particles, so the effect seems to be greater.

Bizen ware does not have patterns painted on the vessels, but the patterns are created by the flow of the flames that change inside the kiln and the technique. The way the flame hits the vessel changes depending on where it is placed, such as near the entrance to the kiln, on a high place, or near a corner. The vessels are made by relying on the natural flames, and no two vessels are the same.

Hidasuki is a traditional Bizen ware technique characterized by reddish-brown patterns. By wrapping rice straw around the vessel and firing it, a lively reddish-brown pattern is created. The alkaline components of the rice straw react with the iron in the clay during firing to create the pattern.

Ceramics are characterized by the warm texture of the clay, which makes them feel like they are a product of nature. The Hidasuki pattern seems to express the power of flames. With Bizen ware, you can feel the nature of the clay and the flames. This teapot is a fusion of Chinese tea culture and Bizen clay, expressing a traditional Chinese teapot with Bizen clay.

Potter: Takahiro Hosokawa (Bizen ware)

https://www.instagram.com/hosokawa___takahiro/

Firing: Wood-fired kiln

Size: Total length 11cm (including handle and spout), body diameter 7cm, height 8cm

Capacity: 130ml

Weight: Approximately 150g

Packaging: Paper box

Notes: Since this is handmade, each piece is slightly different.

Because the clay particles are coarse, the hot water is difficult to stop even if you press the hole on the top of the lid. When pouring water, do not tilt the teapot vertically, but pour slowly to ensure smooth pouring. You can see how to pour water in the youtube video below.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5qPun6vLuQA

*Bizen ware

Bizen ware is pottery made in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture. Bizen ware began production at the end of the Heian period, about 800 years ago. Bizen ware is fired at high temperatures of 1200-1300℃, and because it is sturdy, many pots and jars were initially made. Tea masters favored Bizen ware for its unique clay texture, and since the Muromachi period (1338-), many pottery pieces for the tea ceremony have been produced.

Bizen ware is characterized by the fact that the clay is fired as is without glaze, and the beauty of the patterns that make use of the taste of the clay. Bizen ware is mainly fired in wood-fired kilns. The main fuel is pine wood, and the pottery is fired for about two weeks.

There are two types of clay: rice field clay, which is mainly taken from rice paddies, and mountain clay, which is taken from the mountains. The beautiful patterns unique to Bizen ware are created with clay rich in iron, and the clay taste of each artist is created by the mixture of clay.

When Bizen ware gets wet, the color becomes lighter, and the color changes with prolonged use. The changes that occur are a great sight to see, so it's fun to watch them grow while using the pottery.

Quantity

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FAQ

Which type of of tea can I brew with the teapot?

It can be used for any type of tea. However, unglazed pottery is more likely to absorb the flavor of the tea leaves. By using different tea utensils for each type of tea, you can enjoy the flavor of the tea to the fullest.

For example, in the case of Japanese tea, sencha, fukamushicha, genmaicha, and gyokuro are all in the same family, but since hojicha has a strong roasted aroma, we recommend using a different tea utensil.

However, glazed pottery or porcelain tea utensils do not absorb the flavor of the tea leaves, so they are suitable for brewing various types of tea.

How do you wash a teapot?

Please wash the teapot with water, without using detergent. Ceramic teapots easily absorb detergent ingredients, which can affect the flavor of the tea.

Tea leaves remaining in the teapot are the main cause of tea stains. After brewing tea, we recommend removing the tea leaves once they have cooled and rinsing them with water.

Moisture remaining in the teapot can cause mold. Turning the teapot upside down will help it dry faster.

We do not recommend washing it in the dishwasher. Please wash by hand.

Can I remove tea stains from a teapot?

Here's how to remove tea stains.

1. In a bowl or pot, mix 24g of baking soda with 1 liter of water at 30-40°C.

*Do not use aluminum or Teflon-coated pots as they will react with baking soda.

2. Leave the teapot in the water mentioned in step 1 for 30-60 minutes.

3. Wipe off the tea stains with a soft sponge or cotton swab. Do not use hard sponges or brushes.

4. Rinse the teapot with water.

5. Thoroughly dry the teapot.

*Baking soda water may irritate your hands, so wear rubber gloves.

Can I return the product?

We do not accept returns unless the product is damaged when the package arrives.

Each tea utensil is slightly different and may have slight distortions or scratches. Please check the images posted on our online shop in advance.

If you have any questions about the detailed condition of the product, please feel free to contact us. We can send you additional images and videos of the product.

Do you ship internationally?

We can ship to the following countries:

China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines

Are the goods antiques or second-hand goods?

All the products in the shop are new. We sell products produced by potters and kilns in Japan.

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Bizenware Hidasuki teapot A (130ml)