Japanese Tea Set: 4-Week Course
4 Week Japanese Tea Set Course
Learn the traditional techniques behind creating your own handmade Japanese teapot and matching tea cups in this four-week pottery wheel course, led by ceramic artist Mitsuka Shimazu.
Japanese teapots are beautifully balanced pieces of functional pottery, carefully designed to pour perfectly while reflecting the maker's individual style.
Over four weekly sessions you'll learn the specialist techniques needed to throw and construct your own traditional Japanese teapot, complete with matching tea cups.
Throughout the course you'll explore throwing off the hump, creating multiple matching forms, trimming for precision, and assembling the many individual components that make a teapot both beautiful and functional.
Guided by experienced ceramic artist Mitsuka Shimazu, you'll gain insight into traditional Japanese pottery techniques while creating a unique tea set you'll treasure for years to come.
What's Included
Four weekly 3-hour sessions
Small group tuition with expert guidance throughout
Learn traditional Japanese throwing techniques including throwing off the hump
Design and create your own traditional teapot with matching tea cups
Learn precision trimming and fitting techniques
Decorative carving and finishing techniques
All clay, tools and studio materials included
Bisque & glaze firing included
Suitable for confident beginners and those with previous wheel experience
Course Breakdown
Week 1 – Designing & Throwing the Teapot
- Introduction to Japanese teapot design
- Planning and sketching your tea set
- Learn to throw off the hump
- Create the teapot body, lids, spouts and handles
Week 2 – Matching Tea Cups
- Learn to throw matching tea cups using callipers
- Create consistent forms and proportions
- Finish any additional teapot components if required
Week 3 – Precision Trimming
- Trim and refine every component
- Fit lids accurately
- Trim tea cups to create a cohesive set
- Prepare handles and attachments
Week 4 – Assembly & Decoration
- Assemble your teapot
- Attach spouts and handles
- Add carved or sculpted decoration
- Refine and finish your complete tea set ready for firing
After Your Course
- Your work will be professionally bisque fired by our studio team.
- Your pieces will then be glazed and glaze fired.
- Your completed tea set will be ready to collect approximately 5–6 weeks after the final session.
- We'll email you as soon as everything is ready for collection.
What to Bring
👕 Clothes you don't mind getting a little messy (or an apron)
💧 A drink for each session
💇 Long hair tied back is recommended
💅 Short fingernails are helpful for wheel throwing
Location
Clayful Hands Studio, Offham Farm, Lewes, East Sussex — BN7 3QE
Free parking onsite. Café and farm shop next door.
Bookings, Refunds & Attendance
Due to the small class sizes and the progressive nature of this course, bookings are paid in full at the time of booking.
If you need to cancel, please let us know as soon as possible. A 10% administration fee applies to any eligible refunds.
- More than 14 days before the course starts: Reschedule once or receive a refund (minus 10% administration fee).
- Within 14 days: Bookings are non-refundable, but can be transferred to another available course if space allows.
- Once the course has started: Missed sessions cannot normally be transferred or refunded as each week builds on the previous one.
You're welcome to transfer your booking to a friend before the course begins if you're unable to attend.
If we ever need to cancel a session, an alternative date or full refund will be offered.