This larger cup, or small chawan if you prefer, was the standout new creation of Master Zhuang, a reputed award-winning potter from Sun Moon Lake, with whom we have developed a unique working relationship fuelled by friendship. Having more time on his hands that he truly wished for during the brunt of the pandemic, he dedicated himself to new creations. This dark Mist rendition is a sibling to our Blue Mist Small Chawan that caught Yuwen's attention and was quickly adopted as her daily cup. The volume and shape is generous and balanced in a classic half-moon design with a low pedestal style base. The deep olive grey with darker blueish hues evoke the the heavy cloudy skies that sometimes gather in the high mountain valley where master Zheng's studio is nested. The sophisticated appeal of the glaze further highlights the contrasting effect of the jagged edge along the cup's brim, enhanced by a dark line as if burnt along the edge. This striking feature may seem unpractical or uncomfortable to the user's lips. On the contrary, as Yuwen commented, it is a visual reminder to slow down and pay attention in the handling of the cup when you use it. It forces you to be more attentive and respectful of the tea moment this cup participates in. She finds it fun to try out sipping from different sides of the cup giving a fresh new experience every time. She also really likes the thicker bulge on the outer edge that acts as a rest for the lower lip. Do they make your tea taste better? Yuwen would certainly think so. Since these cups are made one by one, variations in shape, size and colouring must be expected. If you order more than one, we will match similar cups to make an homogenous set, as much as we can. Like all the work featured in our Handcrafted section, each item is made one by one and is signed and dated by the artist. Handmade in Taiwan.