Atelier Yu Cats in a Sunny Spot Yunomi Tea Cup Pair

Atelier Yu Cats in a Sunny Spot Yunomi Tea Cup Pair

Two cups, one larger and one smaller, is one of the oldest ways Japan has of saying that a home holds two people. This meoto pair is hand-painted by Atelier Yu in the Kutani tradition from Ishikawa, and both cups carry the same scene of cats dozing in a patch of sun, drawn in the warm ochres and greens that Kutani painters have favoured for generations.

The larger cup measures 7.5cm across and 9cm tall, the smaller 6.5cm across and 8.5cm tall, and both take the classic yunomi form: tall, straight-sided and unhandled, made to be held in the palm so the warmth of the tea reaches your hands before the first sip. That shape suits green tea, hojicha and genmaicha, though nothing stops you using them for coffee or a late-night hot chocolate.

Each cup is painted individually, so colour depth and line weight differ slightly between the two and from every other pair we sell, which is exactly what you want from hand-finished work rather than something mass-printed. The set arrives gift boxed and reads naturally as a wedding, anniversary or housewarming present, particularly for a couple who already keep tea somewhere close to the centre of their day. If you are building the set, the matching teapot pours two to three cups, which is the right volume for this pair.

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.