Wonky Slate Matcha Cup — Handmade Stoneware by Brooker Ceramics
This handmade matcha cup lives at the intersection of utility and contemplation. Thrown by hand at the Brooker Ceramics studio in Oxfordshire, it speaks directly to the Japanese tradition of wabi sabi—the beauty of imperfection and the poetry of age. The tall foot and organically textured walls create a sculptural piece that functions equally well held in your hands during tea ceremony and standing on display as object art. No two pieces are exactly alike; each is shaped uniquely by the maker's hand. Whether you seek a vessel for daily ritual or a sculptural addition to a shelf, this cup answers both calls.
Form & Character
The cup's tall foot gives it architectural presence—it stands rather than sits. This lifted base, combined with walls that curve organically, creates a sculptural piece that arrests attention in any room. You can trace the maker's hand in every surface detail: slight variations in thickness, a gentle asymmetry in the profile. The stoneware holds warmth in your hands; when filled with tea, the cup becomes even more sculptural, almost a meditation object on the palm. This is not a cup designed to disappear into the background. It announces itself. That's by design. It earns its place on display or at the table through presence alone.
Made for the Table. Built for Display.
Your matcha cup works in two worlds. At the table, it grounds the ritual—the heft of stoneware in your hands, the satisfaction of holding something shaped by hand, the warmth that builds as you sip. Once washed and dried, it belongs on display. Group it with other handcrafted pieces, or let it stand alone on a shelf or windowsill. The tall foot creates visual lift; the organic walls hold interest from any angle. This piece doesn't need a crowd to justify its presence. It anchors a corner of your space, claims a place in your home's visual narrative. Whether you're using it daily or letting it earn its place on display, it performs as both functional ware and sculpture. That's the duality of handcrafted work done well.
Handcrafted in Oxfordshire
This matcha cup was thrown on the wheel at Brooker Ceramics, our studio in Oxfordshire. The maker pulled it from a single mass of stoneware, shaping the tall foot and organic walls by hand through patient repetition. Every cup tells that process: subtle variations in wall thickness, slight asymmetries in the rim, the fingerprints of the maker pressed subtly into the clay. These aren't flaws or imperfections to apologize for. They're evidence of wabi sabi tradition—the Japanese philosophy that celebrates imperfection, impermanence, and the beauty of things as they are. The piece was then fired in an electric kiln to high temperature, creating dense, durable stoneware that will hold tea for decades. No two pieces are exactly alike. That's not a limitation. That's the point of functional ware shaped by hand.
Quality & Care
The surface is fired to high temperature and is food-safe and waterproof. The stoneware is dense, chip-resistant, and built for daily use—holding hot tea without concern, absorbing the warmth and weight of ritual. The surface can be washed in the dishwasher or by hand; both methods suit the piece equally. Over time and with use, the surface may develop a patina that deepens its character and connection to your home. This is the beauty of functional ware in stoneware. It's designed to be used, to be touched, to become a familiar and essential part of your daily ritual. Each scratch and mark becomes a record of use. The piece only improves with age and handling.
About Brooker Ceramics
Brooker Ceramics is a functional ware and sculptural ceramics studio based in Oxfordshire, England. The maker shapes each piece by hand, exploring the traditions of Japanese ceramics, particularly wabi sabi and the aesthetic of imperfection. Every piece is designed for use—cups hold tea, bowls hold food—but they're also meant to be seen and appreciated as art. The work has found an audience of over 25,000 on YouTube, where the making process unfolds in real time, bridging the gap between maker and collector. This transparency is central to the studio's philosophy: showing how handcrafted ceramics are made, and why that matters. Each piece is a conversation between maker and clay, between utility and beauty, between form and function.
Handmade, so there may be variations in shape and glaze.
Refund policyOur refund and returns policy lasts 30 days. If 30 days have passed since your purchase, we are unable to offer a full refund or exchange.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused, in the same condition you received it, and in its original packaging. A receipt or proof of purchase is required for all returns. Please do not send your purchase back to Country living; instead, follow the steps below to return your item to Brooker Ceramics.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned:
- Perishable items such as plants, food, and flowers.
- Gift cards, downloadable software, some health and personal care items, and intimate or sanitary goods.
- Hazardous materials or items containing flammable liquids or gases.
Returns for Ceramics
- Ceramics are eligible for return within 30 days of purchase.
- Returned ceramics must be unused and in the same condition in which you received them, including their original packaging.
- To initiate a return, please contact us via email at hello@earthandclay.co.uk for instructions. Return shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer.
- Once we receive and inspect the returned item, we will notify you via email of the approval or rejection of your refund. If approved, your refund will be processed, and a credit will be applied to your original method of payment within a certain amount of days.
Partial Refunds
In certain situations, only partial refunds may be granted. This may apply to:
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged, or missing parts for reasons not due to our error.
- Any item returned more than 30 days after delivery.
Sale Items
Only regular-priced items may be refunded. Sale items are non-refundable.
Exchanges
We replace items only if they are defective or damaged. If you need to exchange an item for the same one, please contact us at hello@earthandclay.co.uk and we will provide a return address.
Gifts
If the item was marked as a gift when purchased and shipped directly to you, you will receive a gift credit for the return value. Once the returned item is received, a gift certificate will be mailed to you.
If the item wasn’t marked as a gift at the time of purchase, or if the gift giver had the item shipped to themselves, we will send the refund to the gift giver.
Shipping Returns
Please contact us at hello@earthandclay.co.uk and we will provide a return address. Shipping costs for returns are the customer’s responsibility and are non-refundable. If a refund is issued, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from the refund amount.
For higher-value items, we recommend using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance, as we cannot guarantee receipt of your returned item.
Late or Missing Refunds
If you have not received your refund within the expected timeframe, please:
- Check your bank account.
- Contact your credit card company, as there may be a delay in processing.
- Contact your bank, as processing times may vary.
If you have completed these steps and still have not received your refund, please contact us at hello@earthandclay.co.uk.
Need Help?
Contact us at hello@earthandclay.co.uk for any questions related to refunds and returns. Thank you for supporting Brooker Ceramics and Plants!