Tetsu Shino Tea Bowl

Kan Matsuzaki 

Kan Matsuzaki was born in Tokyo in 1977. His work as a Japanese ceramic artist is well known for its intricate glaze combinations and meticulous attention to surface detail.  

Kan is the son of the esteemed potter Ken Matsuzaki, a prominent figure in international ceramics, whose pieces are distinguished by their elaborate glaze applications and complex compositions, showcasing contemporary interpretations of classic forms. Kan shares the same kiln with his father when firing their works, capturing inspiration – directly and indirectly – from his work.  They still work and collaborate in the same kiln honing the techniques from generation to generation. 

Kan Matsuzaki has exhibited his work internationally, including at the Ippodo Gallery in New York, where his pieces have been featured in their curated shows.  

Shino ware originated in the late 16th century in Japan’s Mino region and is recognised as the country’s first successful white-glazed ceramic tradition. Early potters experimented with feldspar-rich glazes layered over coarse, iron-bearing clay, firing the vessels in wood-fuelled kilns where flame, ash and atmosphere created beautifully unpredictable effects. This method produced Shino’s signature character: a thick, milky glaze that can appear soft white, pale grey or delicately pink, often broken by warm iron marks or brushwork that blushes red where the kiln draws out the iron. The texture is equally distinctive—tiny pinholes known as “yuzu-skin” form as gases escape during firing, giving each piece a subtly pitted, organic surface. Its creation relies on generous glaze application and long, high-temperature firings, allowing heat and oxygen to interact with both glaze and clay. The finished ware feels at once soft and rugged. 

Comes with its own wooden box signed by the artist

Size: 12 cm W x 10 cm L 

Box: 15cm W  x 15cm D x 14cm L