Sienna Horizon Kyusu

With its broad, shallow body and gently domed lid, this kyusu has an elegant, understated silhouette. The warm reddish-orange color comes from iron-rich Tokoname clay fired in an oxygen-rich atmosphere. Left unglazed, the surface reveals fine concentric lines from the potter's wheel, particularly visible on the lid, where they accentuate its gently rising shape.

The long side handle widens towards its open end, providing a comfortable grip and balancing the generous proportions of the body. A small spherical knob completes the lid, while the narrow spout projects from the body at almost a right angle to the side handle. Inside, a finely perforated clay filter covers the opening to the spout, allowing the tea leaves to expand freely in the spacious interior while retaining them during pouring.

The combination of a wide interior, low profile and integrated clay filter makes this kyusu particularly well suited to Japanese green teas, whose leaves benefit from ample room to unfold during infusion.

Explore more pieces in the Sienna collection: Sienna Echo Kyusu, Sienna Hearth Kyusu, Sienna Dawn Shiboridashi, Sienna Strata Cup.

Written by Sven

About Gyokko

Founded in 1961, Gyokko is a family-run shokunin pottery workshop in Tokoname, one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns. Now in its third generation, the studio produces handmade Japanese teaware, including kyusu teapots, shiboridashi and tea cups, combining traditional craftsmanship with precision, functionality and understated beauty.

The production of a Gyokko teapot involves around 40 steps, shared among experienced craftspeople. The body, lid, spout and handle are individually shaped and carefully assembled. Particular attention is paid to the fit of the lid, the angle of the spout for a clean pour, and the position of the handle for comfortable use. The result is teaware that combines the subtle character of handmade ceramics with the reliability and refinement of skilled craftsmanship.

Below is a video of our visit to the Gyokko workshop in Tokoname, where we commissioned the teaware pieces now available at the Nannuoshan shop.

​

Japanese teaware categories

Japanese teaware can broadly be distinguished into three categories: kikai, commercially produced teaware; shokunin, handmade pieces made by skilled craftspeople; and sakka, works by individual ceramic artists.

Gyokko belongs to the shokunin tradition, where a master develops original designs that skilled potters reproduce entirely by hand. The emphasis is on technical mastery, functionality, and ergonomics. Rather than creating one-of-a-kind art objects, the workshop produces carefully designed pieces that excel in handling and pouring, combining remarkable consistency with the craftsmanship of handmade teaware at an accessible price.

Learn more about the three levels of Japanese pottery in this video.