The tea bowl is a form that has been popular since the use of tea became widespread in China from the T'ang period, (618 - 907 AD) and later in Japan from the 12th century.
In Japan the tea ceremony became a contemplative ritual, providing an opportunity for the tactile and aesthetic qualities of the tea bowl to be appreciated.
The tea bowl form I am drawn to making is known as a unomi, when held with a hot drink, the hands of the user are warmed and the full sense of the form is engaged with.
I make these faceted tea bowls on the kick wheel and cut the wall before throwing the final shape. Each tea bowl responds differently to the wood and salt in firing. In the tea bowl form, the foot is often thought to reveal the character of its maker.
