Kyoto Bamboo Cup, Pine Soot Wiped Lacquer

At a glance

• Made from madake bamboo, with the natural node forming the base of the cup
• Pine soot mixed into wiped lacquer creates a smoky dark finish while leaving the bamboo grain visible
• Lightweight bamboo transfers heat slowly, keeping both warm and cold drinks comfortable in the hand

The dark finish changes the bamboo without hiding it.

Pine soot, traditionally made by burning pine, is mixed into the lacquer before it is worked into the bamboo. The result is a deep smoky brown exterior with the vertical bamboo fibres still visible beneath the finish, while the inside becomes much darker and more concentrated in tone.

The cup itself makes unusually direct use of the material. It is formed from a section of bamboo, with the natural node becoming the base rather than adding a separate bottom. Look inside and the radial pattern of that node is still visible beneath the dark lacquer.

The finish uses suri-urushi, or wiped lacquer, where thin layers of lacquer are worked into the surface rather than covering the bamboo beneath an opaque coating. This protects the material while allowing its grain and natural structure to remain part of the cup.

Bamboo also changes how the cup feels in everyday use. It is remarkably light, and its low heat conductivity means a warm drink does not transfer heat to your hand as quickly as ceramic or porcelain. It works equally well for tea, coffee, water or a cold drink.

Made by Takanochikko in Nagaokakyo, Kyoto, where the workshop maintains local bamboo groves and carries techniques developed through tea utensils into contemporary objects for everyday life.