Akiko Hirai 'Wet Kohiko Tea Set'

Dimensions:

Teapot - ø  17 cm x H 25 (15) cm, Yunomi - ø 9.5 cm x H 7.5 cm, Milk Jug - ø 10 cm x H 9 cm, Sugar Bowl - ø 15 cm x H 6.5 cm

Materials: Porcelain, stoneware blend 

Method: Hand thrown and carved

Description:

Quietly elegant Wet Kohiki tea set, a handcrafted collection that brings together tradition and contemporary artistry. This set includes one teapot, five yunomi cups, a milk jug, and a sugar bowl, each piece uniquely formed and finished with a soft blue glaze that evokes a serene, weathered beauty. Hirai’s signature Wet Kohiki technique creates subtle textures and organic forms, making this set not only functional but deeply expressive. Perfect for both daily rituals and special gatherings.. 

About the Artist

Akiko Hirai blends traditional Japanese and contemporary studio pottery methods. Her motivation to study ceramics came soon after moving to London in 1999, where she was introduced to Korean moon jars in the British Museum. By being trained at the University of Westminster and Central St. Martins, as well as working as a lecturer and ceramics technician at Kensington and Chelsea College of Arts, London, Hirai is highly acclaimed and sought after by collectors worldwide.

Using a combination of traditional and contemporary pottery techniques makes Hirai a versatile artist who produces a vast range of functional objects and artworks. In her process of craftmaking, she relies on instinctual impulses and often shuns away from her rhythm being static or repetitive.