Stoneware・Shino

Perhaps the most iconic piece of teaware here at Song Tea, this rectangular tea tray by ceramicist Wang Wen De features an oracle bone script, the earliest known form of Chinese writing. Used to record royal divinations during the Shang Dynasty (16th century - 1046 BC), this script is believed to be the direct ancestor to modern Chinese script.

The tray is formed by joining two layers of thin stoneware, leaving a shallow cavity for capturing water overflow. The individual characters of the tray are carefully incised by the artist, a task that is meticulous and difficult, as each character must be carved with the tray inverted. After a bisque firing, all surfaces are glazed in white shino.

We have been using Wang Wen De’s trays at our own tasting table since 2015, employing a “dry brew” or gan pao method of tea making, where very little excess water is used.

*Please take note that each tray can be slightly different in color tone and texture. It is not unusual to have areas of thicker glazing, and or colorations that reflect the different interactions between the mineral content of the clay body and glaze. Each tray is different, and may not be identical to the photographed item.

Approximate dimensions: 400mm width, 180mm depth, 15mm thickness・Artist: 王文德