Discover the art of crafting a chawan, or tea bowl, that embodies the Japanese aesthetics of wabi and sabi. Through the ceramic technique of carving, you will learn to shape a vessel worthy of a ceremony.

+ What you will do
In this course, you will carve a chawan or matcha bowl from a single piece of solid clay. This is a traditional Japanese way of making tea bowls that has been practiced since the time of the samurai. We will start by shaping the outside of the bowl, which also involves attaching a very important foot ring, before turning our attention to the inside of the bowl. It is a slow, meditative process that calms the mind and encourages creativity. Clay is so dynamic and alive, and this technique brings you into contact with clay during one of its most beautiful drying phases, the “leatherhead” phase.

If you wish, you can also decorate your finished piece with vibrant underglaze colors, giving it a unique and personal touch.

Matcha will be served. All materials, tools, and instructions will be provided. Your finished masterpiece will be completely dried and then fired at 960°C, followed by professional glazing with transparent glaze (and then fired again at 1200°C), so that it can be picked up 2-3 weeks later. Yes, it is functional—you can drink from it and it is dishwasher and microwave safe.

Duration: 2.5 hours
Course type: Modeling course (carving technique)
Your teacher: Sabine
Level & age: For beginners aged 14 and up
Included: All materials, instructions, a fully functional masterpiece, and matcha are included in the price.
Location: Fresh Ceramics Hietzing – Altgasse 20, 1130 Vienna
Price: €95 per person