Atelier Yu Cats in a Sunny Spot Kutani Small Plate

Atelier Yu Cats in a Sunny Spot Kutani Small Plate

A small plate earns its keep by being the one you reach for without thinking. At 14cm across, this round porcelain plate sits between a side plate and a saucer, which makes it the right size for a slice of cake, a piece of toast, two or three wagashi beside a cup of tea, or nothing at all except the rings and keys that collect on a shelf by the door. It is hand-painted by Atelier Yu in the Kutani ware tradition of Ishikawa, and the cats-in-a-sunny-spot scene sits right at the centre of the plate where the food usually goes, so it comes back into view as the plate empties. Porcelain gives this piece a brighter white ground and a crisper edge than the stoneware in our range, which makes the ochres, greens and soft blues of the painting read sharper than they do on a mug. Every plate is painted by hand, so colour depth and line weight vary a little from one to the next, and that is the mark of a genuine hand-finished Kutani piece rather than a printed transfer. It arrives gift boxed and works either as a small present on its own or as the piece that completes a set alongside the matching teapot and yunomi cups.

As each piece is lovingly handcrafted, subtle variations in size, glaze, colour, and texture may occur, adding to the unique character and charm of the artisan-made product.