National consultation hotline

Product Series

Tenmoku bowl-Yohen glaze

Tenmoku tea cup-Floral blossom glaze

Tenmoku coffee cup-Hare's fur glaze

Tenmoku teapot-Yohen glaze

Tenmoku bowl-Yohen glaze

Tenmoku tea cup-Iridescent gold glaze

Tenmoku tea set-Aventurine glaze

Tenmoku gift set-Coral reef luster

About Us

Tenmoku, also known as JianZhan, a type of black glazed tea bowl, hails from Fujian, China. It was first produced during the Song Dynasty (960–1279) and is famous for its natural glazed patterns and the iron-rich clay, which is the foundation of every piece. The textural depth and visual glaze patterns reveal themselves randomly at high-temperature wood-firing, which makes it a unique (or impossible to duplicate) piece. ChromWare has been studying and mastering tenmoku pottery, an ancient art, for more than 20 years. Our tenmoku tea sets are utilizing the original Song Dynasty techniques, which are 13 steps, and modern day creativity and skill. We hand-make each piece with iron-rich clay (9% Fe content) and produce the recognizable hare's fur, oil spots, and iridescent tenmoku glaze patterns by wood-firing in kilns at 1300ºC. Our tenmoku tea cups are known by collectors around the globe because they reflect China's ceramic history and modern form in tea wares.ChromWare partners with global cultural leaders: Shanghai's Waldorf Astoria uses Tenmoku tea cups in VIP rituals; Kyoto's Fujian teahouse crafts custom Hare’s Fur bowls. Taipei's Eslite Bookstore pairs JianZhan with ancient texts, while Shanghai's Duoyun sold $150k Tenmoku sets in a day—bridging tradition through art.

Traditional kiln workshop in Fujian firing tenmoku glaze pottery at 1300°C

Artisan shaping iron-rich clay for jianzhan tea cups in Jianyang studio

Chromware shaping iron-rich clay for jianzhan tea cups in Jianyang studio

Process Introduction

Artisan selecting iron-rich red clay for Jianzhan tenmoku pottery in Jianyang, Fujian

Material Selection

Iron-rich clay from Fujian undergoes crushing, washing, and aging to form the signature "iron body".

Hand wheel-throwing Jianzhan tea cup with shallow ring foot and glaze stop ridge

Hand Shaping

Master potters wheel-throw tenmoku teapots and cups, refining shallow ring feet for perfect balance.

Dragon kiln firing process for tenmokus glaze ceramics, ancient technique revival

Biscuit Firing

750°C pre-firing strengthens the structure and eliminates defective bodies.

Applying natural tenmoku glaze to handmade pottery for unique crystal effects

Natural Glazing

Plant ash and iron ore create the tenmoku glaze. Partial glazing controls crystalline flows.

Close-up of tenmokus glaze patterns: yohen variations

Kiln Alchemy

1300°C reduction firing spontaneously generates stellar patterns - no two tenmoku tea cups repeat.

Blog Posts

05 /29

2025

About ChromWare

Tenmoku Blogs 2025-05-29

【Brand Story | ChromWare: For 20 years, ChromWare's 1300°C kiln-fired glazes fuse Song Dynasty Jian Zhan artistry into contemporary design – turning coffee cups into "touchable Eastern philosophy." From Kyoto teahouses to Zurich homes, their celestial-patterned vessels bridge cultures, reviving millennium-old craft in daily rituals.

06 /02

2025

What is tenmoku?

Tenmoku Blogs 2025-06-02

Tenmoku is a valued ceramic glaze from China's Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD) characterized by its rich black base and moveable crystalline patterns, like silver "oil spots" (Yohen) or golden streaks of "hare's fur." Initially a glaze for tea rituals from Jianyang kilns (Jianzhan), the term was later assigned by Japanese monks after Mount Tianmu. As one of the best-known examples of a ceramic glaze that successfully contributed to the value and flavor of tea.

05 /10

2025

How to make a tenmoku glaze?

Tenmoku Blogs 2025-05-10

Uncover the secrets to making real Tenmoku glaze for Jianzhan tea cups! Where the use of iron oxide (5-15%) and reduction firing (1280 °C) encourage the iron oxide crystals to form during a carefully controlled cooling process. You'll receive key recipes and techniques for application, and firing schedules, as well as some modern modifications to become proficient in this ancient Chinese ceramics tradition.

Gallery of jianzhan tea cups with diverse tenmoku glaze finishes

Premium Tenmoku gift set in sandalwood box: oil-spot Jianzhan tea cup with five famous teas

Contact Us

WhatsApp：+8613480091180
Email：chromware2025@gmail.com
Address：Manufacturing base Chromware Production Factory, No. 32, Houjing Village, Shuiji Town, Jianyang District, Nanping City, Fujian Province, China

About Us

Tenmoku, also known as JianZhan, a type of black glazed tea bowl, hails from Fujian, China. It was first produced during the Song Dynasty (960–1279) and is famous for its natural glazed patterns and the iron-rich clay, which is the foundation of every piece. The textural depth and visual glaze patterns reveal themselves randomly at high-temperature wood-firing, which makes it a unique (or impossible to duplicate) piece. ChromWare has been studying and mastering tenmoku pottery, an ancient art, for more than 20 years. Our tenmoku tea sets are utilizing the original Song Dynasty techniques, which are 13 steps, and modern day creativity and skill. We hand-make each piece with iron-rich clay (9% Fe content) and produce the recognizable hare's fur, oil spots, and iridescent tenmoku glaze patterns by wood-firing in kilns at 1300ºC. Our tenmoku tea cups are known by collectors around the globe because they reflect China's ceramic history and modern form in tea wares.ChromWare partners with global cultural leaders: Shanghai's Waldorf Astoria uses Tenmoku tea cups in VIP rituals; Kyoto's Fujian teahouse crafts custom Hare’s Fur bowls. Taipei's Eslite Bookstore pairs JianZhan with ancient texts, while Shanghai's Duoyun sold $150k Tenmoku sets in a day—bridging tradition through art.

Menu

© ChromWare handmade Ceramic Art Co., Ltd. All rights reserved

WhatsApp consult