Zao Collection - Coffee pitchers and drippers
Zao is a collection inspired by one of Japan's most extraordinary winter phenomena – the "snow monsters" (juhyō) of the Zao mountains.
These extraordinary, almost fairytale-like forms are created from conifers, mainly spruces, which are covered with layers of snow and ice in winter. Strong, freezing winds blow successive layers of frozen moisture onto the branches, gradually encasing the trees and transforming their shape into fanciful, irregular silhouettes. From a distance, they resemble enormous creatures standing amidst the snow-covered mountains.
It is precisely these soft, rounded, and somewhat surreal shapes that inspired the forms of the Zao jugs. Their silhouettes are deliberately irregular and organic – resembling a winter sculpture more than a classic jug.
The colors, on the other hand, are my own interpretation of this winter landscape. I was inspired by the sunlight reflecting off the snow and falling on the ice-covered silhouettes of the trees – a cool landscape meeting warmer, more atmospheric hues.
Because with a perceived temperature reaching even -30°C, only one thing remains: a cup of hot coffee, tea, or chocolate. ☕❄️
Two of the jugs are additionally equipped with coffee filters, allowing them to serve as ceramic drippers and prepare freshly brewed coffee directly in the jug.
Zao is a proposition primarily for coffee lovers, admirers of winter landscapes, and those who appreciate objects with more organic, dreamy forms. A jug that can become not only a practical vessel but also a small sculpture on the table.
Material: stoneware glazed with food-safe and secure Amaco/Mayco glazes.
Features: fired at 1210°C, food-safe, lead-free, non-toxic, suitable for hot and cold beverages.
Usage: dishwasher and microwave safe, with the exception of elements for which the filter manufacturer recommends different usage.
Each piece is unique and hand-formed, so you receive a one-of-a-kind item. Handicraft is not mass production – irregularities, differences in shape, glaze, and color are a natural part of the creation process.
Made by Planty by Joanna Maria Rosińska
Handmade in Poland
Instagram: @planty.by.jmr