Japanese Satsuma Moriage "Dragonware" Set

Incredible Japanese Satsuma Moriage "Dragonware" tea service we have right now. If you’ve never felt a piece of moriage pottery in person, it’s really something else.

The designs are actually raised off the surface using a layered clay technique, giving the whole set this amazing three-dimensional texture.

This particular service features the Immortals—the hand-painted holy men—surrounded by those iconic dragons that wrap around to form the handles and spouts. It’s a beautiful mix of art and mythology, and the craftsmanship on the dragon finials is just stunning.

One of the coolest features of these vintage sets is the hidden lithophane in the cups. If you hold them up to a bright light, you can see the face of a geisha revealed in the porcelain at the bottom. It’s a great little "secret" detail that always surprises people