Forged in the hills of Kunming
On a sourcing trip through Yunnan’s backroads, our Head of Procurement Sandry Law followed the sound of rhythmic hammering to a small family forge tucked behind a tea garden. Three generations of the Zhao family had been shaping brass by hand for over sixty years, producing vessels for local temples, tea houses, and home altars. Among their quiet repertoire, the small incense bowl caught Sandry’s eye — not the oversized, ornate censers found in tourist markets, but a modest, functional piece designed to sit on the corner of a tea tray and cradle a single sandalwood stick.
Each bowl begins as a flat disc of reclaimed brass. The smith heats it over a charcoal fire, then hammers it into a shallow, gently curved form using a succession of wooden mallets. The hammer marks — irregular, overlapping, faint as fingerprints — remain on the outer surface, preserving the rhythm of the maker’s hand. Inside, a smooth concave center holds the stick upright and catches the falling ash. The low profile (barely 4 cm tall) keeps it discreet, never interrupting the visual balance of a well-laid tray.
Sandry worked directly with Master Zhao to refine the proportions for modern tea rooms: a slightly heavier base for stability on bamboo, a wider rim to prevent ash from scattering, and a finish that develops a natural patina with use. The same bowls are used in the Zhao family’s own tea space, where they burn sandalwood to clear the senses before a gongfu session. We bring a small number of them to tea.toys a few times a year, each one subtly unique — a quiet anchor for the ritual of clearing the room.