Blue Hydrangea Cup and Saucer

Enjoy a cozy tea or coffee break with this charming cup and saucer, decorated with blue hydrangeas. The combination of opaque white pigment and a translucent blue glaze gives the hydrangea blooms a soft, luminous appearance. Delicate kannyu crackles spread across the glazed surface. The blue hydrangeas stand out against the muted, earthy tones of the body, while the brown rim reinforces the cup’s rustic character.

Perfectly sized for a cup of tea or coffee, it is well suited to a relaxing break. The handle features nawate, a decorative braided-rope design that provides a comfortable, secure grip. Echoing the braided form of the handle, the saucer is finished with a gently undulating rim. Its flat surface, without a recessed cup ring, also allows it to be used as a small plate for sweets, pastries, or light snacks.

Bizan Kiln

Founded in the late Meiji era, Bizan Kiln is devoted to bringing the vivid colors and enduring appeal of Kutani ware into the present day. Every piece is meticulously hand-painted by skilled artisans, whose careful work gives each vessel subtle variations and a character of its own.

Carefully layered pigments create rich surfaces with gentle depth. From designs inspired by masters such as Hokusai to charming animal and floral motifs, the kiln’s creations reveal a wide range of expression, with vibrant color and assured brushwork bringing each motif vividly to life.

Kutani ware is a traditional Japanese porcelain from the Kaga region in Ishikawa Prefecture, with a history spanning over 350 years. Known for its vibrant overglaze enamel designs and use of five signature colors, known as Kutani gosai—navy blue, red, purple, green, and yellow pigments. This timeless craft has continuously evolved through generations of artisans who balance innovation with a deep respect for tradition. 

Kutani ware exhibits a diverse range of distinctive styles, shaped by evolving artistic tastes over the centuries. Styles such as ko-Kutani, with its bold colors, geometric patterns, and painterly detail, and akae-saibyo, marked by ultra-fine red lines. Many pieces feature traditional Japanese motifs, such as kacho (flowers and birds) and sansui (landscapes), offering a timeless glimpse into the beauty of nature and the seasons.