This handmade ceramic gaiwan and plate set by Minna Graham comes in a rich iron brown-black glaze with a matte finish. The glazes used throughout this set draw from a subdued and cool-leaning colour palette that’s reminiscent of winter. 

The gaiwan interior glaze is milky blue and has been applied in purposefully irregular manner, highlighting each gaiwan’s unique textural surface and revealing the natural colour of the underlying clay. The gaiwan sits atop a short, triangular-shaped, footed base that expands into a wide and round body with an outwardly flared lip at the top. Three hand carved geometrical facets adorn the base of the gaiwan’s outer walls. The gaiwan lid has a short triangular knob and subtle hand carved triangular detailing. The lid has a flat profile and is pleasantly weighted, making it stable when placed on a variety of surfaces.

The accompanying gaiwan plate is hexagonal with a low, near flush profile. It features a hand carved branch motif with Minna Graham’s signature artist stamp and a unique brush stroke detail in cool white, which contrasts nicely with the plate’s iron brown-black glaze.

As is typical of stoneware, both pieces are cool to the touch. There are subtle textural inclusions and surface irregularities owing to the nature of Minna’s locally sourced materials and practice — these are intentional characteristics that give each piece a unique tactility.

Pictures by Pingle Pictures.