Tea & Ceramics: Visit to DutCHawan and a tea-tasting

On 7 March, the ceramics committee of the KVVAK is organising a special meeting on the wonderful world of tea and ceramics. Tea as a beverage originated in ancient China and traditionally required ceramic pots and bowls for serving and drinking. This created a rich playing field in which technique and material, use and aesthetics, expression and refinement come together.

Within this broad field, the chawan occupies a special place. In Japan, it is mainly used for matcha, the finely ground green tea that is whipped with hot water into a frothy drink, but even there, there are many different shapes and materials. Anne Sey will talk about this and give an overview of the history and design language of the chawan within the Japanese tradition. Today, the chawan can be found all over the world: for green tea, for hot drinks in general, or simply as an everyday bowl that fits comfortably in the hand. It is precisely this tension between tradition and everyday use that is central to the travelling exhibition DutCHawan, which will be on display at three locations in Amsterdam and Schipluiden in 2026. Our meeting will take place at one of those locations, Moychay.nl. The initiator of this exhibition, Tineke van Gils, herself a ceramist, will present a selection from the exhibition and showcase the great diversity of makers, materials and styles.