A black and blue beautiful tea set designed by Shin Azumi has taken first place in Home & Garden’s 2008 Ceramics and Glassware Award.

Perhaps what the judges liked the most was the unique clay this set is made from. According to Home & Garden:

“The teapot is made from a fine-grained clay found in Tokoname in Japan. As this clay does not need glazing, its surface remains ultra-smooth, making it matt and silky to the touch. The tea set includes two cups that are made from the same clay, but glazed inside. The teapot is lined with a band of mesh (known as obi-ami in Japanese), which lets the tea leaves circulate freely in hot water and reach their full flavour, without clogging the spout. The tray and saucers are made using another Japanese technique, called bunako, based on the traditional technique, incorporated in Japanese lacquerware, of coiling and gluing together thin strips of beechwood like a roll of ribbon to make a flat surface which is then shaped by hand.”

This is a contemporary design that will fit many home and office decor. Truly worthy of it’s award.