Wildclay Water Offering Bowl

Wildclay Jian Shui — Water Offering Bowl

Traditionally used in tea ceremony to receive excess water, rinses and spent tea, the Jian Shui is often translated as a water catcher. I’ve come to think of it instead as a Water Offering Bowl — a vessel that receives what is poured away and gives it a place within the ritual.

This generous form holds approximately 1000ml, making it well suited to longer tea sessions and shared tea.

The exterior has been painted by hand with gathered wildclays, creating layered sweeps of deep earthen red, ochre, pale mineral tones and naturally occurring markings across the surface. Rather than covering the clay uniformly, the brushwork allows the different materials to meet, overlap and respond individually to the firing — giving the bowl an almost landscape-like quality.

The interior is lined with a simple wood-ash base glaze, which has fired to a warm olive-gold with subtle speckling and variation. Its glossy surface creates a beautiful contrast with the more raw and expressive exterior while making the bowl practical to rinse and care for after use.

Each piece is unique and lovingly handmade, shaped as both a functional tea vessel and a small expression of earth, material and ritual.

Dimensions & details —
Approx. 1000ml
Handmade and individually formed; dimensions may vary slightly.

Painted with gathered wildclays and lined with a wood-ash glaze.
Electric fired to stoneware temperature of 1260°C.

Pour with presence. Return with gratitude.