Blind Box Yunomi -- Need your thoughts

[chicagopotter]

I have a question for all you tea chatters. What do you look for when selecting a teacup? does the interior glaze hold any relevance to your decision? Is lighter (read: white) better than a darker glaze?

Here is the reason I ask. I am currently working on a yunomi project -- making a series of 50 cups, but am on the fence about how to present them for sale. My original idea was to offer them as a blind box (much like how collector toys are sold these days). Many of the pieces will be glazed similarly, but none will be identical. I want to emphasize chance and surprise with this project, but is this the right medium for surprise?

As tea drinker, would you buy a cup, sight unseen? Would you be willing to take a chance on form, color, feel? Would price be an issue in your decision?

Thanks for reading, I would love to get any feedback!

[Jayaratna]

Personally, when I choose teaware, I let my gusto lead me, and I can be picky, even persnickety.

If I find a cup is much different than what I thought (or I was led to think), I ask for a refund. Maybe if you tell it will be a surprise in advance, those daring a try will accept their Fate (or Doom). In my opinion, the more you show and explain, the less you risk your buyers to be unsatisfied.

A

[Chip]

I would probably not buy much of anything sight unseen these days, given how available images are for products.

I think the vast majority of potential buyers want to see the product before purchasing.

Generally lighter glazes are much more popular with tea drinkers for a yunomi. White is for some the "color" of choice so they can properly view their tea. Once I try a tea several times, this becomes less important.

Size is probably more important than color. As is shape ...

[MarshalN]

There is no way I'd buy any teaware without first seeing it.

[chicagopotter]

Thanks everyone for your input -- it really helps. I guess, to further the conversation, what are some of the qualities you look for in a teacup -- size and shape wise?

[chamekke]

I like almost any colour of yunomi, but it's very hard to find yunomi that are white on the inside. Some tea drinkers (and I am one of them) like to appreciate the colour of the tea itself. So if you offer at least a few such yunomi, you could do very well.

I never buy an item of teaware sight unseen, unless I've commissioned it to be made specially.

Most of my yunomi are in the 3" high range - never more than 3.5". Smaller ones (2-3") are also nice. Some people may like "man-sized" yunomi, but not me.

These are among my preferred shapes of yunomi. Some, not all, have a slightly flared lip:

Dimple optional:


Lovely shape, although the foot ring is too small (= more easily knocked over):


Favourite porcelain yunomi:


Simple shape (pottery):


Simple shape (porcelain):

[Pentox]

I'm pretty finicky when it comes to buying teaware online. Unless there's a plethora of images from which I can attempt to discern some aspects of it from I won't order it.

I do enjoy yunomi with white interiors, but they are as noted hard to find. Things that make shopping for one much easier in person are the thickness, weight, texture, and overall appearance are somewhat hard to see in pictures, but if enough are presented then I may buy.

More often than not though when I do I'm surprised one way or another when it shows up.

[iannon]

i am personally picky as well when it comes to my cups. I also like certain shapes and 'feels" the first pick chamekke posted is a good example of what I like and is *I think* a popular style in the non-porcelain styles. the heavy drip glazes are poplular with some crowds just look at the hagi topic!

white or cream interiors are also what I look for to show me the tea color better..specially greens.

I am not stuck on any one size but I think for tea drinkers here you will find larger is not always better. I like a variety of sizes depending on what im drinking... sencha gets one size..gyokuro gets another for example. I belive yould find the popular range in general tho to be about 3 oz to 8 or 9 on the large side? guys am i in the ballpark?

I also have been looking for about an 10 or 11 oz size that I like ( and havent found yet) as i do sometimes tend to make some larger batches of dragonwells or my "daily" senchas and dont like to completely fill the cup to the rim so that would get me a good 8 or 9 oz of tea

[Geekgirl]

volume and shape are the most important factors to me, but I'm also picky about these things. Glazes, style, color, all play their part, certainly. I would not buy an artisan cup sight unseen, unless I already knew I loved the majority of the work by the potter.

[bearsbearsbears]

Lu Yu (I think) said tea is best drunk from celadon blue...?
Green tea in a light blue yunomi usually looks gorgeous.

Kind of a cool idea...dunno...I think the idea of blindbox yunomi is good art, but maybe not practical. Can't make up my mind here. blah.

[Janine]

Interior (gorgeous) celadon blue or white are good ideas - so that the color of the tea can be viewed well by someone who is a regular drinker who cares enough for the quality of brewing to want to see the color well.

Make sure the size is not too large so that it can be sipped or slurped for tasting, taking air in with the tea.

Those would be my only recommendations if you are aiming at someone who really cares about drinking and brewing good tea.

What's your style like? Any photos online or that you'd post to show us?

[olivierco]

I like almost any colour of yunomi, but it's very hard to find yunomi that are white on the inside.
Simple shape (porcelain):

I like very much this one!

Currently my favorite yunomi (not totally white on the inside though)

[bonjiri]

one keypoint of a yunomi is functionality

many yunomi are too thin and u can't hold it to drink hot tea

or the drinking area is too thin or too thick

here is my yunomi i made. 'keawe ash' hawaiian mesquite

mahalo ! thanks !






this sample is porcelain, thrown double wall so your fingers don't get burned