What a good tokoname pot should look like?

[fmoreira272]

I recently ordered my first tokoname teapot from Yuuki-cha(http://www.yuuki-cha.com/Japanese+Teapo ... ame+Teapot)




and what i received was that:






I was expecting a more smooth coating based on the pictures but im newbie in teaware. I contacted yuuki and got a very fast response from Dan:

"Regarding the line on the Gyokko teapot. Before firing in the kiln, a coating is applied to MOST of the outside wall of the teapot. After firing, the portion that was glazed has changed to the brownish/purplish color. A small part is not coated which is the black silverish line you can see. You will probably notice that the line continues onto the base of the teapot. The handle and lid sometimes have the same effect where it hasn't been coated. However, each pot is different. This is one of Gyokko's trademark designs! You can see it very prominently on the attachment I have sent of a different Gyokko teapot that I own. Please see the attachment, the bottom has been coated the top half hasn't. In between is the silver line. If you have a Gyokko teapot with this effect, you know you have a real Gyokko teapot!"

Just wondering if thats a common "handmade marks" i should expect in the future when getting new tokoname teaware. Also i noticed when brewing tea for the first time the metal screen is kind loose where it overlaps making it hard to clean as small leaves got stuck in between. is that something i shoud expect as well?

[Geekgirl]

The pot looks very nice to me. You often see that tonal change in this type of tokoname pot. It's done purposefully.

Regarding the loose screen, 360 screens are supposed to be pretty tightly seated. How loose is yours? Some leaves will slide under the screen at the overlap, because it isn't welded together, but you shouldn't be able to wiggle, lift, or remove the screen.

[fmoreira272]

the last 2-3 incches that overlaps are kind "springy". i can fit my nail in between but its doesnt move beyond that. i might ended up getting another teapot with the clay filter that seems easy to clean:



any recommendations on affordable and easy to clean tokoname teapots?

[TokyoB]

I have a Gyokko teapot as well with the same exterior. This style with this rough exterior is called "itome". Here's the pot on the Artistic Nippon website:
http://www.artisticnippon.com/product/t ... itome.html

My teapot also has the same two color effect. It has a sasame (clay screen) though so I can't comment on how the Gyokko pot screens fit.

In general I think a sasame teapot is easier to clean but there are still small bits of leaf that are difficult to remove from the sasame unless you use a brush or something.

[Chip]

This is not totally uncommon it seems, even among other craftsmen of Tokoname kyusu-s.

This is a Kenji kyusu. The explanation I received from Toru of AN was that one side was more or less deox fired and the other was exposed to oxygen. Not sure what caused it with these Gyokko kyusu-s, but deox fired pieces are often higher priced.

[Victoria]

the last 2-3 incches that overlaps are kind "springy". i can fit my nail in between but its doesnt move beyond that. i might ended up getting another teapot with the clay filter that seems easy to clean:



any recommendations on affordable and easy to clean tokoname teapots?

I was just checking out this new pot too. Very clever the way the back was smoothed out. I'd like to see this in other styles. Not so sure how well I love this particular pot.

[Salsero]

fmoreira272, I have the same pot you just got ... and I think Olivierco also has it, since i learned about it from him. I just love it ... the small size, the reasonable price, and the beautiful appearance of the outside. I have photographed it for TeaDay many times.

There are, of course, kyuusu that have a smooth exterior or uniform color on a rough exterior. My impression is that kyuusu lovers tend often to prize the ones with rougher texture and color variation.

It may be you would be happier with one of the standard red Tokoname teapots like this or like this or a variation like this. CDJapan has midget sized ones here including several smooth or pretty smooth ones.

But I think you will find a tendency for vendors to offer and consumers to like the rougher more wabi-sabi looking things.

[fmoreira272]

i've seen some of the solid color kyusu but they look too "modern". i just recently started buying teaware so i was just try to find out if it was worth the price i paid. it seems that its a good value considering other teapots i was looking at.
besides it being a little hard to clean(i guess one gets used to it) i noticed quite a improvement when brewing all the shincha i ordered.even tough im still not crazy about the color/glaze i really love the feel/hold it has when pouring the tea.
i guess it wont be my last kyuusu. lately i find myself bidding like crazy on ebay and browsing japanese websites at 2am...
at least i can rationalize my spending as "helping" the economy recover!

[Salsero]

browsing japanese websites at 2am...

That sounds familiar.

[Tead Off]

Chip,

Tokoname clay will usually be red in oxidation kiln and purple in reduction kiln. The effect can be 'controlled' by the potter when firing. Gyokko seems like a very skilled potter and knows how to both mix his clays and fire them to acheive his own style.

OP, I like the pot you bought very much. The posted photo at Yuki-cha is very dark and the surface cannot be seen clearly. There will almost always be a difference between the photo and the piece you receive. Personally, I would avoid any kyusu without sasame filter. More difficult to clean and I don't want metal touching the tea once it is in the pot.

I don't get the feeling of modern from smooth pots. In fact, it's the opposite for me with these Tokoname pots. The surface modeling make most of them seem modern to me. Some of my favorite decorations are Yohen, the natural ash build up on unglazed pots. This is more wabi-sabi than any of the alterations done by the potter on the clay.

[Salsero]

A few photos of the pot in question ...

(BTW, I very much like the metal obi-ami filters. Feelings run high for and against around here.)

[sriracha]

browsing japanese websites at 2am...

That sounds familiar.

*cough*


I suddenly realized yesterday I need/want a 120-ml kyusu

[guitar9876]

I own this kyusu and I couldn't be happier. I haven't had any problems cleaning mine. I take out the screen once in awhile to clean. It's relatively easy to take out and put back in.

[thirtysixbelow]

Excellent pic's Salsero. I really like that kyusu.

[Salib]

In your opinion what size is the best for brewing all kinds of tea ,just for one cup of tea.Thanks.