Arita's Brocade Porcelain
Hailing from Arita, the birthplace of Japanese porcelain, this lidded bowl is the product of a renowned historic kiln. Decorated in the Somenishiki style with underglaze cobalt layered beneath overglaze enamels, it is a refined tradition of brocade that has been perfected since the early 1600s. The plum blossom is considered the first of the year in Japan.
Shaped by Arita’s Legacy: This piece also comes from Arita ware, Japan’s first porcelain tradition. Prized for its luminous white body and refined hand-painted details, embodying the harmony of precision and quiet beauty.
Learn more → Discover the Art and Craftsmanship of Arita Ware Porcelain
A Gilded Descent
Only the lid broke. Now, a gold kintsugi seam descends the cobalt crown and crosses the vermilion plum band. The underside of the lid is finished in a deep blue urushi. This piece was crafted by Saki Moriyama, an American-born lacquer artist. She holds a Master's in Lacquer Arts from Kyoto City University of Arts and has completed Kyoto's official successor training program for traditional urushi craft. Over the course of four months, Moriyama rebuilt the lid using natural urushi, 24-karat gold, and colored lacquer. She brought the gold to a roiro finish, following centuries of Japanese lacquer practices.
Two Traditions, One Vessel
Covered vessels are uncommon in the collection. Here, the break fell only on the lid, leaving the body unbroken and the gold seam spanning the entire cover. Beneath the lid lies a hidden surface of deep blue urushi, visible only to the person who opens it. This small object brings together Arita porcelain and Kyoto-trained lacquer, and its gold and blue path is unrepeatable.
