HAGI SSO 16 Eiichi ROCK! by Shibuya Eiichi

[David R.]

I have not used it, only taken a load of photos. I'll wait before doing anything.

[Chip]

Thanks David!

BTW, heh, #11 was my first pick ... period.

[debunix]

#19 has landed.....



....and is soaking for its debut performance tomorrow....

It is more gorgeous than I had thought possible, thinner walled and more delicate than its rugged good looks would suggest.

Wow.

[IPT]

Well, here it is, my rockin' rock, filled with sencha.

[hopeofdawn]

Well, here it is, my rockin' rock, filled with sencha.

Very dramatic lip on that rock! Looking very cool ....

[IPT]

The lip is very dramatic. I just need to make sure I drink it from one side.

I LOVE THIS CUP!!!!!

[Chip]

Beauties debunix and IPT! Everyone's ROCKs look spectacular!

[Drax]

I was out the entire week, and I thought for sure the ROCK would have arrived when I got back early this morning... alas no...!!!

Then a knock at my door this afternoon, huzzah!

#8 is looming large...



A view of the crackling going on... peering from the inside and out over the edge of the cup...



And finally, being swallowed whole by a large gaiwan! (this came in while I was out... purchased from a fellow TCer)



Now to prep both of them for enjoying tea....!

[debunix]

This is a difficult cup to photograph....to bring out the vigor it has in the hand.

This is why I picked #19:


Eiichi Rock teacup by debunix, on Flickr

I love the diagonal swirliness, and the inner markings from being hand formed



It's footsie is solid, but not too exciting:



and the sides are rocky



It comes with visible crackling in one spot only



and as several people have noted upthread, it is quite a hot cup, good for warming hands with cool-brewed teas, but I would not want to grab it full of fresh hot Wuyi or puerh brewed just off the boil. This probably will be the most important thing in deciding where and how it will be used. I baptized it with some gorgeous Anji white tea.



And I posted a ridiculous number of photos here, if you're a glutton for Hagi!

[iannon]

Sal has arrived and brought Yan-shi with him
Streaky side..

Glazy side

And an all jumbled up side..

Close up..

Nice solid foot ring on this one

And in use with some Gao Shan

[debunix]

Gorgeous!

[Tobias]

Here's #16, I'm all out sencha now so it probably won't see much more use until it's time for shincha.

16.jpg (19.71 KiB) Viewed 2376 times

[Chip]

Beautiful ROCKs! everyone!!!

[David R.]

My real piece of Rock arrived (#12). Here it is.

[David R.]

part II