Sujihiki Tokoname Shudei Teapot - 250ml

This expertly crafted Tokoname-yaki kyusu (teapot) has a classic tall shape, and is thrown from the iconic Tokoname shudei (朱泥) clay, known for its brilliant vermillion red colour and ability to subtly reduce the astringency of tea.

The surface is unpolished and unsmoothed, in a style called sujihiki (筋引) which is a subtler variation of rokurome (ろくろ目 - potters' wheel marks) which shows the flow of the potter's fingers as they shaped the piece on the wheel. The lid is decorated with a simple hand-painted pattern. The teapot's built-in ceramic debeso filter is perfect for naturally straining tea.

This piece was made by Shimizu Takayuki (清水孝幸), the son of who Shimizu Genji (清水源二) who makes pottery under the name Hokujō (北条). As such, Takayuki's artist name is fittingly Kohokujō (小北条): Little Hokujō. Born in 1977, Kohokujō continues his father's legacy of producing some of Tokoname's finest pots.

The kyusu comes in its original kiribako (桐箱 - paulownia wood box) signed and sealed by the artist (not currently pictured).