IBA 09 - Small tea cups
IBA 09 - Small tea cups
A hand wearing a cream-colored knit glove holds a small ceramic cup with a white body and terracotta red abstract patterns. The background is a solid light gray, with product specifications printed in small text at the top.
A hand wearing a cream-colored knit glove holds a small ceramic cup decorated with red geometric shapes on a light gray background. Small text at the top reads 'Profile Q2' with dimensions and capacity details.
A hand wearing a cream-colored knit glove holds a small white ceramic cup decorated with orange-red geometric shapes and a striped rim. The background is a solid light gray, with product specifications printed in small text at the top.
A brown square informational card with red text explaining that the product is a handmade Japanese ceramic with a naturally porous clay body and color-changing properties when wet and dry.

IBA 09 - Small tea cups

$95.00
Choose profile

Hand-built in Shizuoka, Japan, by acclaimed ceramicist Katsue Ibata. Featuring spontaneous red brush marks, graphic dots, and hand-drawn rim details over white clay, each piece is a singular, one-of-one work that bridges functional object and contemporary sculpture.

Reflecting Ibata’s intuitive process, these small cups carry a solid weight, a raw tactile finish. Designed for intimate tea sessions, they are ideally suited to Toolong's Taiwanese oolongs and bring a bold, expressive presence to any tea table.


Object Specifications

  • Profile 01 / Ø 5.5 x H 4.5cm | Weight: 56g | Capacity: 40ml
  • Profile 02 / Ø 6 x H 5cm | Weight: 56g | Capacity: 40ml
  • Profile 03 / Ø 6 x H 5 cm | Weight: 59g | Capacity: 40ml
  • Material | Ceramic
  • Origin | Shizuoka, Japan

Shizuoka, Japan


With over 30 years of experience as a ceramic artist, Katsue Ibata works intuitively with clay, allowing bold and playful forms to emerge naturally from her hands. She sees clay as a cooperative material that records every movement and touch. Her works are solid and weighty, finished with distinctive surface treatments.

Using spontaneous black brush marks on white clay, or a gunmetal glaze made from motza, Ibata layers colour before firing and polishes the surface afterwards to reveal a brass-like sheen. Some pieces are fired up to four times, with red-toned works requiring more complex processes than black-toned ones.

Ibata shares her studio with her artist partner, who creates wood-based lacquerware. Now, as grandparents, they have continued to practice their respective crafts side by side for decades, travelling internationally and sustaining a lifelong commitment to making. This dedication has made them deeply respected figures, particularly among younger generations of artists.

Care
Avoid using a dishwasher or harsh detergents. Rinse with warm water after use and hand wash with a soft sponge when needed.

A note on handmade ceramics
Our artist teaware is handmade and may naturally develop subtle changes in colour and surface with use. This is part of the character and beauty of handmade ceramics. Some pieces have naturally porous clay bodies and may gradually darken in colour over time with regular use. This is a natural characteristic, not a defect, and one that many collectors appreciate.

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