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Who would have thought that something so striking and modernist was originally the standard tableware of ordinary homes.

Indigo-blue glazed Arita porcelain tableware, decorated with white mizutama (water droplet) polka dots was once used as cheerful everyday tableware. In Japanese establishments, like inns, it was also brought out to serve hardworking laborers and craftspeople — the Japanese version of offering the builders mugs of tea and biscuits.

A few kilns in Arita still make mizutama items for nostalgic value, but these delicate rounded teacups date back to the 1950s and 60s, when they were used to serve gardeners and workmen at a minshiku (family-run inn). See our conical version, too, which were used in the same inn.

Each has indented white dots surrounded by a rich blue glossy glaze.

For a contemporary laborer-inspired item that we think matches these perfectly, take a look at our blue-and-white Sanpu Sanyo apron, a modern take on the traditional craftsman's maekake apron.

Porcelain
Top Diameter 9cm x Height 5.7cm

VINTAGE VALENTINE

Price

Collections

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