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Oil Spot vs Hare’s Fur: Two Iconic Glazes
Oil Spot vs Hare’s Fur
Two Iconic Glazes — Fire, Iron & the Distinct Personalities of Tenmoku’s Most Celebrated Surfaces
Among the many glazes born from the Jian kilns of the Song dynasty, Oil Spot（油滴） and Hare’s Fur（兔毫） stand as two of the most iconic. Both emerge from the same high‑iron clay, the same extreme temperatures, and the same unpredictable dance of fire and atmosphere—yet they express themselves in entirely different ways. Oil Spot glitters with metallic constellations; Hare’s Fur flows with streaks of molten light. One feels cosmic, the other feels elemental. Together, they represent the dual nature of Tenmoku: the universe above and the fire below. Understanding these two glazes is to understand how subtle shifts in heat, minerals, and timing can create radically different worlds on the surface of a tea bowl.
I. Oil Spot Tenmoku
Metallic Constellations Born from Iron Crystals & Sudden Cooling
Oil Spot Tenmoku is defined by its shimmering, metallic spots—tiny galaxies frozen on a dark surface. These spots form when iron in the glaze separates during firing, rising to the surface and crystallizing into reflective droplets. Under the right conditions, these droplets expand into halos, rings, and iridescent patterns that shift from silver to gold to blue depending on the light.
The effect is both scientific and poetic:
scientific, because the spots are iron oxide crystals
poetic, because they resemble stars scattered across a night sky
Oil Spot bowls were prized in the Song dynasty for their brilliance under candlelight. Today, collectors admire them for their cosmic depth and the way they transform with every angle of viewing. No two bowls are ever the same—each one is a unique constellation shaped by fire.
II. Hare’s Fur Tenmoku
Molten Streaks of Light Formed by Gravity, Heat & Flowing Iron
Hare’s Fur Tenmoku is characterized by vertical streaks—fine lines of molten iron that flow down the bowl’s interior like strands of fur. These streaks form when iron-rich glaze melts and runs during firing, creating natural channels that solidify into textured lines.
Where Oil Spot feels celestial, Hare’s Fur feels earthbound and elemental:
streaks resemble falling rain
molten lines evoke flowing lava
the glaze captures movement frozen in time
The effect is dynamic yet grounded. Hare’s Fur bowls were favored by Zen monks for their quiet, meditative presence. The streaks draw the eye downward, encouraging stillness and contemplation. In tea practice, the glaze enhances the color of the liquor, creating a warm, intimate visual field.
III. Fire, Atmosphere & the Divergence of Two Glazes
How Small Shifts in Kiln Conditions Create Vastly Different Outcomes
Oil Spot and Hare’s Fur share the same origins—iron-rich glaze, high temperatures, and reduction firing. Their differences arise from subtle variations in:
oxygen levels
cooling speed
glaze thickness
kiln placement
duration at peak temperature
A slightly thicker glaze, a few minutes longer at peak heat, or a shift in airflow can turn Hare’s Fur into Oil Spot—or vice versa. This unpredictability is part of Tenmoku’s allure. The potter guides the process, but the kiln decides the final form.
This divergence reflects two sides of the same elemental story:
Oil Spot = crystallization
Hare’s Fur = flow
One is born from stillness; the other from movement. One captures stars; the other captures fire.
IV. Tea Aesthetics & Choosing Between the Two
How Each Glaze Shapes Mood, Visual Experience & Tea Ritual
Both glazes enhance tea in different ways.
Oil Spot offers:
cosmic shimmer
dramatic reflections
a sense of depth and mystery
ideal pairing with dark teas (pu’er, black tea)
Hare’s Fur offers:
warm, grounding streaks
meditative visual flow
a sense of movement and earthiness
ideal pairing with roasted oolong or aged teas
Choosing between them is less about function and more about emotion:
Oil Spot for nights, introspection, and cosmic wonder
Hare’s Fur for mornings, grounding rituals, and quiet presence
Together, they represent the full spectrum of Tenmoku aesthetics—light and shadow, cosmos and earth, stillness and flow.
Closing Reflections
Two Glazes, One Kiln — The Beauty of Divergence in Fire & Iron
Oil Spot and Hare’s Fur endure because they embody the essence of Tenmoku: the meeting of intention and unpredictability. They remind us that beauty can arise from both crystallization and flow, from both cosmic distance and earthly warmth. Whether admired as art or used in daily tea practice, these glazes invite the drinker into a deeper appreciation of fire, minerals, and the quiet alchemy of the kiln. In every bowl, a universe waits—sometimes shimmering, sometimes flowing, always alive.
Curated Pieces, Crafted Purpose
Explore the selections below—where craftsmanship meets desire, and your tea table finds its fire.
