Tokoname-yaki Nerikomi Kyusu by Seisen - Handmade Japanese Teapot | NAGARE

Made by Seisen (清仙) in Tokoname, NAGARE showcases the intricate Japanese technique of nerikomi (練り込み), in which different coloured clays are layered and worked together before the vessel is formed. Rather than being painted onto the surface, the pattern runs through the clay itself.

Here, fine bands of ivory, grey, olive and reddish-brown clay sweep across the body, lid, knob and handle, creating a continuous, almost topographical rhythm. Each curve reveals a slightly different arrangement of the layered clay, making the pattern unique to this vessel.

The low, rounded body and finely formed side handle give it the unmistakable character of a Tokoname kyusu, while the elaborate Nerikomi work brings a more sculptural quality to the piece.

The Art of Nerikomi: Beauty from Within

While most ceramics rely on surface glazes for colour, Nerikomi 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 artist
• 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

A teapot where craftsmanship becomes pattern: layers of clay transformed through handwork into a vessel that cannot be precisely replicated.

Product Details

+ Dimension: Approx. 135mm (Body + Spout) x 150mm (Body + Handle) x H:70mm

+ Region: Tokoname, Aichi, Japan

+ Potter: Seisen (清仙) 

+ Technique: Nerikomi (Hand-layered structural marbling)