Sansai Three-Color Glaze Carved Teacup

A sansai (three-colour) teacup made by Kazufumi Wada, the fourth-generation potter at Keizan kiln in Toki City, Gifu Prefecture. Each piece is thrown on the wheel, then the surface is carved and finished by hand, one cup at a time. There is something stylish about its presence, and it sits easily on an everyday table.

The glazing is sansai — green, brown and white applied in separate passes. Where the colours change, the ridges and hollows of the carving marks overlap. The placement and breadth of each glaze section differ from piece to piece.

Wada selects and blends the clay and the glazes himself. Using carving knives and metal blades, he shaves the surface away little by little. It is work that demands concentration, skill and time.

Even with the same clay, the same technique and the same glazes, the fired colours come out differently. Variations in glaze depth, pooling, running, uneven colour and iron specks are the individual character each piece acquires inside the kiln. Small marks and slight warping are likewise not flaws, and do not affect use.

The uneven beauty of the carving marks cannot be reproduced by machine. Made by hand, it settles well into the hand. It feels stable, and holds about 400cc. Since you can pour a generous amount of hot tea, it is also perfect as a sushi-style teacup.