Gaiwan & Tea cup Set - shino on porcelain (no.2)

A gaiwan (蓋碗 "lidded bowl") is a Chinese vessel for steeping tea. Like a teapot but without a spout or handle, it is used for infusing high quality, loose leaf tea. The wide opening allows us invented during the Ming dynasty. 

The wide opening makes it easy to observe the tea leaves as they brew, offering control over the brewing process.

This set is medium-weight hand thrown porcelain with a Japanese style shino glaze in a high fire, reduction atmosphere.  The type of glaze and the reduction atmosphere result in carbon trapping, where carbon infuses into the glaze especially around the rim and / or any texture creating a unique and irreproducible grey pattern.