This collection brings together contemporary tea ceremony utensils created by Japanese artists working within the living tradition of chanoyu. Each work is a one-of-a-kind piece, shaped by hand and guided by methods that have endured for centuries, while speaking quietly and unmistakably in a contemporary voice.
The objects presented here—tea bowls, water containers, flower vases, and other utensils—are not conceived as reproductions of historical forms. Instead, they reflect a deep engagement with what the tea ceremony represents today: a practice rooted in restraint, attentiveness, and the experience of use. These works are intended to be touched, handled, and lived with, allowing their character to unfold over time.
The artists represented in this collection have been selected for their sensitivity to a contemporary understanding of wabi-sabi: an acceptance of imperfection, a respect for natural materials, and a balance between quiet humility and inner strength. Many of these works are created using traditional wood-fired kilns, where flame, ash, and atmosphere remain beyond complete control. This unpredictability ensures that no two pieces are ever alike, granting each utensil a distinct presence.
While antique tea utensils carry the weight of history, contemporary works offer a different richness—the opportunity for the practitioner or collector to form a personal relationship through repeated use. Marks of handling, subtle shifts in surface, and traces of time become part of the work itself.
This collection is intended for those who practice tea, as well as for collectors who seek objects with depth beyond display. Here, contemporary tea utensils serve as quiet companions, bridging the inherited spirit of chanoyu with the realities of the present moment.
