Teaware in NYC

[Maitre_Tea]

...and to a lesser extent, Boston

Making a trip to Boston/NYC, and planning to do some hunting whilst my friends are working. Looking specifically for porcelain, i.e. gaiwan, fairness pitchers, etc. Not really looking for yixing, unless it's from a "legit" source. Modern stuff will probably be what I buy, but if there are some antique/vintage places I would certainly want to take a look.

I'm planning to troll through Chinatown, street by street, but if there are things that the New Yorkers on this board know of, please don't them out so I don't miss them.

PS: I've heard of a Luh Yu Emporium in Flushing...any good?

[MarshalN]

There's nothing for you in Boston, unless you're looking for chawan and that sort of thing. There's a store called Tokai in Porter Square that has a few chawan/Japanese teaware.

[JRS22]

I'm not familiar with Luh Yu Emporium, but one consideration about Flushing is that it has a more upscale Chinese population than Chinatown.

[JBaymore]

There's nothing for you in Boston, unless you're looking for chawan and that sort of thing. There's a store called Tokai in Porter Square that has a few chawan/Japanese teaware.

Tokai in Porter Square sometimes has some decent Japanese pieces. Worth a look if you are already in town. It is too bad that Steve closed the real "gallery" format Tokai that was on Newbury Street (gallery district of Boston proper) a few years ago. That was a fantastic place with really nice Japanese work beautifully displayed. It was really a special place with a great ambience. (I had the pleasure of being in their first 3 person invitational exhibition of non-Japanese potters a number of years ago.)

If you are more in the market for ....shall we say..... "better pieces"...... try the Pucker Gallery on Newbury Strreet. It is a FANTASTIC gallery. They handle the work of Japanese potters like the late (Ningen Kokuho) Hamada Shoji, Hanada Shinsaku, Hamada Toomo, Ken Matsuzaki, the late (Ningen Kokuho) Shimaoka Tatsuzo, and others. As well as other great non-Japanese potters like Brother Thomas and Phil Rogers.

best,

....................john

[zencha]

doubt you'll find anything in Manhattan's Chinatown .
border Chinatown , Pearl River Mart is worth going to .
They have some uncoated Iwachu tetsubin discounted .
Sometimes they stock Chaou Zhou tea pots on the 2nd floor .
http://pearlriver.com/v2/index.html
Lu Yuh is worth a try as is Fang Gourmet Tea .
http://www.fangtea.com/

[TIM]

http://www.seasonsintl.com/
http://themakari.com/ny/

Good Luck.

[Janine]

For NYC/Manhattan - In addition to what's been posted, you might also try Radiance Teahouse for China teaware, and check out the ambiance as well.
http://www.radiancetea.com/

And of course for Japanese the Ito En store at 822 Madison
http://www.itoen.com/store/index.cfm
(click on "flagship store" link)


and Takashimaya (basement)
http://www.takashimaya-ny.com/

[horsencl]

I second the Radiance suggestion. They are a must see. If you are in the market for some Japanese teaware, check out Mitsuwa Marketplace in Edgewater, NJ. It's just across the river and a real treasure trove.

[zencha]

Radiance is way overpriced .
It feels like a tourist shop , which it is .
Having said that I bought an yixing there !
Ito En has some nice high end tea ware ; Takashimaya's basement not worth a special trip.
Seasons Int . and The Makari are both Japanese .
The Porcelain Room in Greenwich Village sometimes has a few pieces of asian tea ware , but not gaiwan , pitcher , ect.
http://theporcelainroom.com/

[Maitre_Tea]

wow, it seems like there's a lot more Japanese places than Chinese places...perhaps this would be good opportunity to compensate for my paltry Japanese tea ware collection that I've been neglecting to build.

[zencha]

Po-An is a shop within Ippodo Gallery in the Chelsea art district.
They sell Japanese artisianal teaware and related crafts .
I think it is by appointment only .
http://www.ippodogallery.com/Po-An_e.html

Sara Japanese Pottery
http://saranyc.com/
Not tea wear per se , but take a look...

Things Japanese
http://www.thingsjapanese.com/
Vintage tea cups ; may have a few vintage tetsubin , and other vintage tea items

Kinokuniya Bookstore
1073 Sixth Ave., New York , NY 10018
nr. 41St.
212-869-1700
no tea ware but , books .

Japanese culture in NYC
http://www.chopsticksny.com/

[Janine]

Radiance is way overpriced .
It feels like a tourist shop , which it is .
Having said that I bought an yixing there !
Ito En has some nice high end tea ware ; Takashimaya's basement not worth a special trip.
Seasons Int . and The Makari are both Japanese .
The Porcelain Room in Greenwich Village sometimes has a few pieces of asian tea ware , but not gaiwan , pitcher , ect.
http://theporcelainroom.com/

Well, I've been in a lot of teahouses and I think Radiance's prices are pretty average. It is not particularly touristy in the usual sense of the word, but in fact rather different. People are encouraged to sit, ask about tea, stay as long as they like; many are reading or studying. A lot of the local theater and music crowd is there (I am talking of performers, writers, etc)

Takashimaya has some nice things - very elegant! - but you have to look. It all depends on your taste.

[zencha]

Can't vouch for the accuracy of the following article , since they omitted both Luh Yu and Fang but instead mentioned Ten Ren :

New York's other Chinatown: Flushing, Queens
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinat ... town_N.htm

[zencha]

This is the website for Utsuwa-No-Yakata , the store located in Mitsuwa Marketplace ,Edgewater, NJ.
http://www.tokiusa.com/tea-items.html

[TIM]

This is the website for Utsuwa-No-Yakata , the store located in Mitsuwa Marketplace ,Edgewater, NJ.
http://www.tokiusa.com/tea-items.html

But that's Jersey no? A bit far? And all Japanese?