"They are lovely, aren't they?" Hakkai agrees, leaning over to examine the rustic brown teapot in front of the other man. It's beautifully shaped, with the marks of the sculptor's fingers baked in as grooves at the base and in soft petals of clay around the conical handle and spout. Soft metallic blooms of color mark the grainy surface.

"I believe it's an older work from this country," he adds. "See, it's not glazed, so it will absorb the flavors of the tea over time and add depth to the brew."