Gift Guide: Curated gifts for Tea Lovers

This year, gift-giving can be filled with beauty with our curated selection of a group of Japanese ceramic tea implements, perfect for tea enthusiasts. Whether you're embracing the elegance of the tea ceremony or enjoying a cup of sencha or matcha in your daily routine, each piece radiates creativity, charm, and intricate textures, inviting moments of tranquility amidst the bustle of daily life. Both functional and decorative, these meticulously crafted treasures make meaningful and unique gifts for the festive season.

1. For bird lovers: Tea cup with crane designs by Kawamoto Goro

Kawamoto Goro 河本五郎, Ash Glazed Yunomi 灰釉鳥紋, With Signed Wood Box, Stoneware, H9.3 x Dia6.3 cm | Click here for more information

This beautiful and small Yunomi (tea cup) by the renowned potter Kawamoto Goro showcases a refined ash glaze, elegantly accentuating the silhouette of a graceful crane. The cup’s streamlined form is enhanced by the delicate interplay of its ash-glazed shadow, creating a harmonious visual balance. Perfect for drinking sencha in the summer, or Yuzu tea in the winter, this cup makes for a thoughtful gift for bird enthusiasts and tea lovers alike, bringing beauty and art into your loved one's everyday life.

2. Sculpted Oceans: contemporary tea bowls of Goto Hideki

Goto Hideki 後藤秀樹, 2 Shino Tea Bowls志野茶盌, 2023, withsigned wood boxes, stoneware, various sizes | Browse more works by the artist here

Do you know someone who adores the ocean, and has a passion for tea? Goto Hideki’s ceramic works channel the spirit of the ocean, inspired by his childhood upbringing. This series, titled Watatsumi—which translates to “Sea God”—celebrates the beauty and power of the sea. These two stunning tea bowls offer a meditative experience, connecting the drinker to the deep ocean’s power and tranquility with every sip of matcha. One bowl draws inspiration from the elegant curves of a conch shell, while the other evokes the intricate textures of coral reefs.

3. For those who value simplicity and minimalism: Black glazed tea bowls

Group of black glazed tea bowls by Ikenishi Go, Richard Milgrim, and Yamada Kazu | Click here to browse

Black glaze technologies embodies a subdued, austere beauty often associated with wabi—the concept central to wabi-sabi, which is a phrase reflecting the Japanese aesthetic of finding beauty in imperfection, transience, and the natural. Its dark surface creates a striking contrast with the vibrant green of matcha tea when viewed within the bowl, enhancing both the aesthetic and creating an appetizing sensory experience. The allure of black glazes is evident in various styles, including Hikidashi-kuro, Kuro-Oribe, Tenmoku, and other iron-rich glazes, each showcasing unique textures and tonal qualities. A black tea bowl makes an ideal gift for matcha drinkers, or practitioners of the matcha tea ceremony who appreciate understated elegance and the kind of beauty revealed through closer contemplation.

4. For those who dream of spring: Hoshino Tomoyuki's harmony of cherry blossom pink and matcha green

Hoshino Tomoyuki 星野友幸, "Haze" Teabowl 霞碗, with signed wood box, stoneware, H8.9 × Diameter 10.7 cm | Click here for more information

For those who love the delicate hues of cherry blossoms or captivated by contemporary tea ware, Hoshino Tomoyuki’s tea bowl embodies the innovative spirit of modern ceramics. The verdant green of matcha beautifully complements the soft cherry blossom pink, offering a hopeful reminder during the colder winter months that spring is just around the corner. Taking on his signature pale pink hue, Hoshino's ceramics also carry the message that craft is a universal language.

5. For those who enjoy simple tea rituals: Karatsu pourer for Matcha whisking

Karatsu katakuchi bowl 唐津片口鉢, with signed wood box, stoneware, H8.9 × Dia 22.8 cm | Click here for more information

Matcha has become a cherished daily ritual for many, and this contemporary Karatsu vessel, crafted by an anonymous artisan, offers a unique twist to the tradition. Designed with a spout, it allows you to whisk matcha in the bowl and easily pour it into your desired cup or container—perfect for those who enjoy experimenting in the kitchen. It also can double as a vessel for sake, or other liquids. Whether for a creative chef, a home cook, or a dedicated matcha enthusiast, this vessel makes a thoughtful and very versatile gift. Karatsu ware, with its rich history and enduring legacy in Japan, adds an extra layer of cultural significance to this delightful piece.

6. For lovers of the Shino tradition: Yamada Hiroki

Yamada Hiroki 山田洋樹, Two Shino tea bowls, 2024 | Click here to browse

Yamada Hiroki is one of those rare potters working in Shino ware, who demonstrates an exquisite sensitivity towards the marriage between glaze, surface, and form. His tea bowls exemplify remarkable craftsmanship and are excellent in quality, making them an ideal choice for enthusiasts of traditional Shino glazes and those who appreciate the ritual of a daily bowl of matcha. Shino ware holds a significant place in Japanese ceramic history, dating back to its origins in the Momoyama period.

7. For those who speak the language of flowers: a ceramic bowl by Shingu Sayaka

Shingu Sayaka 新宮さやか, No.14 Padoma bowl, 2022, with signed wood box, mixed clay with glaze slip, H8.1 × W20.3 × D17.7cm | Click here to browse available works by the artist

The contemporary ceramic artist Shingu Sayaka creates works with an ethereal quality, the result of her meticulous ceramic practice. This tea bowl, titled Padoma—derived from the Sanskrit word padma, meaning "lotus"—pays homage to the lotus flower, a symbol of enlightenment, rebirth, and strength. Shingu has adorned the bowl with a shimmering glaze and skillfully sculpted naturalistic petals, capturing the essence of the lotus in elegant monochrome. For the stylish loved one who appreciates meditation and mindfulness, this exquisite tea bowl is a thoughtful and meaningful gift.

8. For those drawn to technicolor: Takeuchi Shingo's polychrome inlaid ceramics

Three works by Takeuchi Shingo 竹内真吾, 2023, stoneware, various sizes | Browse available works by the artist here

Precision, vibrant color, and rich texture are at the heart of ceramicist Takeuchi Shingo's artistic practice. Renowned for his mastery of inlaid techniques, Takeuchi blends artful abstraction with striking geometric designs on vividly colorful surfaces. A beloved and inspiring teacher, as well as an exceptional craftsman, his pieces captivate with their blend of functionality and artistry. Perfect for matcha, sake, or simply as display-worthy objects, Takeuchi's creations make thoughtful and versatile gifts. From small cups and sake decanters to tea bowls, his work brings beauty and character to any occasion.

9. Sharing is caring: Set of cups by Wakao toshisada

Wakao Toshisada 若尾利貞, Shino Mukozuke, Set of 5, with signed wood box, stoneware, H7.6 x Dia10.1 cm | Click here to browse more

Do you know someone who loves to host and share a cup of tea with friends? This set of five tea cups makes a thoughtful gift for those who appreciate beauty in everyday life. Wakao Toshisada, a modern master of Shino ware, is renowned for his dedication to Momoyama period techniques of creating Shino glazes which have defined this storied craft.