Akio Niisato’s Black Tea Bowl is soft and round in form. The artist’s choice of a glossy opaque glaze over a gritty stoneware surface allows for the grog in the natural clay to reveal as decoration. The small, white specks of grog feel like stars in a night sky. The rounded form stems from a dedication and consideration for functional ware. As the lip curves inward and softens, gently allowing the light to travel, the form invites you to sip out of it, guaranteeing a beautiful, one of a kind experience as the lips touch the tea bowl.