A set of a pair of rice bowls and a pair of yunomi, as though a brilliant, glittering sun and moonlight — Youkou and Gekkou — were rising out of a jet-black cosmos. A new work of which Shinemon, master of the Arita ware kiln transformation technique, is proud.

A Nitten Special Prize Winner
A set finished so that you may enjoy the full, commanding presence of Shinemon, a master who received the Nitten Special Prize — an award of particular honour and authority at the Nitten (Japan’s largest art exhibition).

About Arita Ware
Arita ware is the origin of Japanese porcelain. In 1616, under the rule of the Saga domain lord Naoshige Nabeshima, pottery stone was found in what is now Saga Prefecture and production began. Because the wares were made in Arita and shipped from the port of Imari, they are also known as Imari ware. Carried to Europe by the Dutch East India Company — the only trading partner permitted during Japan’s period of national seclusion — the porcelain was called “white gold” and furnished the courts of royalty and nobility.

What Is a Meoto Pair?
A meoto pair is a set of two vessels intended to be used together by two people, most often a couple. In Japan it is a long-standing form of gift for a wedding, an anniversary, or a new home — the pair itself carries the wish.

What Is Tenmoku?
Tenmoku is a family of dark iron glazes that came to Japan from China and has been prized in the tea world for centuries. Yuteki tenmoku — oil-spot tenmoku — takes its name from the crystals that surface during firing and scatter across the black glaze like drops of oil on water. Several such bowls are designated National Treasures of Japan.

Why a Paulownia Box
Paulownia wood is light, resists moisture and insects, and moves with changes in humidity — which is why it has been used in Japan for centuries to store what is valuable. A piece delivered in a paulownia box arrives ready to give, and the box itself is part of the gift.

Contents and Dimensions
Rice bowl × 2, Yunomi × 2, booklet, paulownia box.
Yunomi: Height: 8.2cm Diameter: 6.4cm / Rice bowl: Mouth diameter: 11.3cm Height: 5.5cm / Foot diameter: 4.5cm / Capacity: 250ml Weight: 180g
As each piece is handmade, slight variations in size may occur.