Oil-spot tenmoku, deeply loved by the great commanders of their day — Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Among them the finest, the yohen pieces, are selected and given a gold rim: a lavish pair of yunomi.

Smoked Silver
The smoked-silver light that seems ready to draw you in is called gin-yuteki. It is Shinemon’s own revival, in modern form, of the oil-spot tenmoku long loved by warlords and tea men. The mottling emerges differently in every piece, so each gives off its own distinct light.

Silver Yuteki Tenmoku
Mottled crystal patterns that shine like smoked silver within the black tenmoku glaze. Silver yuteki tenmoku is a vessel of the nobility, used by warlords and men of letters — Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi among them — to cleanse the mind. Among oil-spot tenmoku, the kind that shines black-silver has long been favoured by Japanese tea men; its deep colour holds something that will not let go. Set the vessel down and look at it, and a profound view of the cosmos opens in the mind.

About Arita Ware
Arita ware is the origin of Japanese porcelain. In 1616, under the rule of the Saga domain lord Naoshige Nabeshima, pottery stone was found in what is now Saga Prefecture and production began. Because the wares were made in Arita and shipped from the port of Imari, they are also known as Imari ware. Carried to Europe by the Dutch East India Company — the only trading partner permitted during Japan’s period of national seclusion — the porcelain was called “white gold” and furnished the courts of royalty and nobility.

What Is a Yunomi?
A yunomi is the everyday Japanese teacup — a small cup without a handle, held in both hands. It is used for green tea.

What Is a Meoto Pair?
A meoto pair is a set of two vessels intended to be used together by two people, most often a couple. In Japan it is a long-standing form of gift for a wedding, an anniversary, or a new home — the pair itself carries the wish.

What Is Tenmoku?
Tenmoku is a family of dark iron glazes that came to Japan from China and has been prized in the tea world for centuries. Yuteki tenmoku — oil-spot tenmoku — takes its name from the crystals that surface during firing and scatter across the black glaze like drops of oil on water. Several such bowls are designated National Treasures of Japan.

Why a Paulownia Box
Paulownia wood is light, resists moisture and insects, and moves with changes in humidity — which is why it has been used in Japan for centuries to store what is valuable. A piece delivered in a paulownia box arrives ready to give, and the box itself is part of the gift.

Contents and Dimensions
Yunomi × 2, booklet, paulownia box.
Height: 8.2cm Mouth diameter: 6.4cm / Weight: 145g Capacity: 190ml
As each piece is handmade, slight variations in size may occur.