Objects/Saeam Kwon
Saeam Kwon Purple Ash Gaiwan with its lid

Saeam Kwon · Teaware

Purple AshGaiwan

A moment for tea

A 90 ml unglazed black stoneware gaiwan by Saeam Kwon.

Capacity
90 ml
Material
South German black stoneware clay
Finish
Entirely unglazed
90 ml$130
1

Care

Clean by boiling in water only. Place the gaiwan in a pot of water and begin on low heat, allowing it to warm gradually before bringing the water to a gentle boil. Let it cool gradually afterwards. Avoid sudden temperature changes, which can cause thermal shock and cracking.

Your handmade piece

Each Purple Ash Gaiwan is made entirely by hand. You will receive a similar piece to the one photographed, with natural variations in shape, texture, colour and mineral markings that make each vessel individual.

Tea pairings
Saeam Kwon gaiwan tea pairingsFive circles: first to try. Three: worth trying or testing. Two: less recommended; compare with porcelain or adjust brewing. The first choices are roasted Wuyi, Anxi and Taiwanese oolong, red tea and dark tea.TEA PAIRING GUIDEPAIRING / 5Roasted Wuyi oolongDa Hong Pao, Shui Xian, Rou GuiHighly recommendedRoasted Anxi oolongTraditional Tie Guan YinHighly recommendedRoasted Taiwanese oolongDong Ding, Muzha Tie Guan YinHighly recommendedRed teaEspecially fuller bodied stylesHighly recommendedDark / post fermented teaRipe puerh, Liu BaoHighly recommendedPhoenix Dan Cong oolongTest for fragrance retentionRecommendedHighly oxidised oolongOriental Beauty, red oolongRecommendedAged oolongExplore the aged characterRecommendedAged raw puerhCompare texture and aftertasteRecommendedAged white teaEspecially if the pot maintains heat wellRecommendedLight Anxi oolongLight Tie Guan YinLess recommendedTaiwanese high mountain oolongAli Shan, Li ShanLess recommendedYoung raw puerhControl steeping timeLess recommendedFresh white teaCompare delicate flavours with porcelainLess recommendedGreen teaControl temperature and pour speedLess recommendedYellow teaControl temperature and pour speedLess recommended5 Highly recommended / 3 Recommended / 2 Less recommended

Highly recommended

Start with roasted Wuyi, roasted Anxi or roasted Taiwanese oolong. Red tea, particularly fuller bodied styles, and dark teas such as ripe puerh and Liu Bao are also first choices for this gaiwan.

Recommended

Highly oxidised oolong, aged oolong and aged raw puerh are worth trying. With Phoenix Dan Cong, test whether its distinctive fragrance stays clear. Aged white tea is also worth exploring if the vessel maintains heat well.

Less recommended

Compare light Anxi oolong and Taiwanese high mountain oolong for freshness, aroma and floral clarity. With young raw puerh, control the steeping time; with fresh white tea, pay attention to its delicate flavours.

Temperature & pour speed

Green and yellow teas depend particularly on temperature control and pour speed. Their lower rating is a prompt to adjust your brewing and compare the result, rather than a claim that they cannot be brewed in this gaiwan.

Choose a tea family

Once you find a pairing you enjoy, keep the unglazed gaiwan dedicated to one tea family or a similar flavour profile. These ratings are brewing recommendations, not measured suitability scores.

The object
Close view of the unglazed black stoneware rim

Form & material

This 90 ml gaiwan by Saeam Kwon is made from South German black stoneware clay and is entirely unglazed. Its tapered bowl, gently flared rim and slender lid knob give it a restrained silhouette, while the exposed clay brings its fine texture and natural surface variation into focus.

Saeam Kwon

Based in Berlin, Saeam Kwon began studying ceramics in 2009 and trained under Korean master potter Jungki Min. She continued her practice in Seoul and Paris before establishing her independent practice in Berlin in 2017.

Material, form & use

Her work draws on traditional Korean ceramics through a contemporary attention to proportion, texture and lightness. Working primarily with fine stoneware, she explores how small changes in silhouette and surface shape the experience of an everyday vessel.

The gaiwan reflects this interest in simplicity and use. The lid holds back the leaves as you pour, while its compact form becomes familiar through the repeated gestures of preparing tea.

Recommended teas

Meet the maker · Saeam Kwon
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