KICHA Tokoname-yaki Nerikomi Kyusu: A 20-Year Vintage Masterpiece

KICHA is a rare survivor from a two-decade-old firing in Tokoname, Japan’s most prestigious pottery city. This is not merely a teapot, but a sculptural exploration of geological movement. Created using the painstaking Nerikomi method, the marbled patterns are not painted on; they are the flesh of the piece, running through the entire body of the clay.

The Art of Nerikomi: Beauty from Within

While most ceramics rely on surface glazes for color, the KICHA relies on structural integrity.

• The Technique: Layers of differently pigmented natural clays are stacked, sliced, and hand-formed. Every sweeping line and earthy swirl you see is a cross-section of the clay itself, a 3D marble that reveals the rhythmic pressure of the artisan's hands 20 years ago
• Radial Elegance: The lid features precision radial carvings that echo the lid's knob, providing a rhythmic, sunburst contrast to the fluid, "liquid-stone" appearance of the body

Why Vintage Tokoname is Coveted

• A 20-Year Patina: High-iron Tokoname clay is legendary for its interaction with tea. Over its 20-year life, this Kyusu has developed a "soft" glow - a warm, lived-in patina that is impossible to replicate in a new kiln firing
• Flavor Maturation: Collectors prize vintage Tokoname because the porous clay has had decades to stabilize. It is known to actively round out the astringency of green teas, producing a cup that is remarkably smooth, sweet, and balanced
• The "Kyusu" Form: The side-handle (Kyusu) design is perfectly balanced for a controlled, meditative pour, ensuring the leaves have ample room to unfurl and "dance" within the chamber

Product Details

+ Dimension: Approx. 120mm (Body + Spout) x 130mm (Body + Handle) x H:75mm

+ Region: Tokoname, Aichi, Japan

+ Potter: Shunzan Kiln

+ Technique: Nerikomi (Hand-layered structural marbling)

+ Capacity: circa 220ml