A ''yunomi'' (Japanese: 湯のみ) is a tall form of a Japanese

teacup A teacup is a cup for drinking tea. It may be with a handle (grip), handle, generally a small one that may be grasped with the thumb and one or two fingers. It is typically made of a ceramic material. It is usually part of a set, composed of a ...

, typically made from a

ceramic A ceramic is any of the various hard, brittle, heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant materials made by shaping and then firing an inorganic, nonmetallic material, such as clay, at a high temperature. Common examples are earthenware, porcelain ...

material and having no handle.

Description

Yunomi teacups are tall with a trimmed or turned foot it. Because the cup heats up quickly, it is usually held with two hands. Unlike the more formal

chawan A ''chawan'' (; literally "tea bowl") is a bowl used for preparing and drinking tea. Many types of ''chawan'' are used in East Asian tea ceremonies. The choice of their use depends upon many considerations. History The ''chawan'' originated i ...

tea bowl which is used during the

Japanese tea ceremony The Japanese tea ceremony (known as or ) is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of , powdered green tea, the procedure of which is called . While in the West it is known as "tea ceremony", it is se ...

, the yunomi is made for daily or informal tea drinking.

Variations

There are special pairs of yunomi called ''meoto yunomi''. Meoto yunomi usually consist of two cups with the same pattern (sometimes in different colours) but slightly different sizes and often slightly different shapes (the larger cup being the "husband" and the smaller being the "wife" cup). This pairing is popular for wedding gifts.

Genre

Many contemporary potters, both in the East and West, make yunomi. As a genre, the yunomi has become a much-collected item.

References

Drinkware Japanese pottery Japanese words and phrases Teaware {{drinkware-stub