A meoto pair of rice bowls: two bowls of the same size, made for a couple.

A Size for Everyone
The bowls sit snugly in the hand, in a size that anyone, man or woman, can use comfortably.

An Auspicious, Generous Shape
The lip opens outward, a shape considered auspicious. The bowls are designed a little low, and have been well received for looking generous without being heaped with rice. The glossy white porcelain keeps grains of rice from clinging, and the smooth surface feels wonderfully pleasant in the hand.

Silk Road — the Romance of the Ages
Silk Road takes as its theme the timeless romance of the desert road, braved by the travelling merchants who made their graceful way across the deserts of Central Asia. Single lines of red and of cobalt blue (gosu) on the white porcelain express a desert sunset and the horizon.

Beyond the Everyday
Its beautiful colours have a curious charm that draws us into a space beyond the everyday. One piece in a living space richly lifts the whole feeling of the air.

Exceptional Functionality
The material is the finest natural pottery stone from Amakusa in Kyushu. Fired at the extreme temperature of 1,300°C, this Arita porcelain feels like silk to the touch yet is hard and non-absorbent, so stains do not settle and care is simple. There is none of the earthy scent of stoneware. Microwave and dishwasher safe. It keeps drinks hot or cold well.

About Arita Ware
Arita ware is the origin of Japanese porcelain. In 1616, under the rule of the Saga domain lord Naoshige Nabeshima, pottery stone was found in what is now Saga Prefecture and production began. Because the wares were made in Arita and shipped from the port of Imari, they are also known as Imari ware. Carried to Europe by the Dutch East India Company — the only trading partner permitted during Japan’s period of national seclusion — the porcelain was called “white gold” and furnished the courts of royalty and nobility.

What Is a Meoto Pair?
A meoto pair is a set of two vessels intended to be used together by two people, most often a couple. In Japan it is a long-standing form of gift for a wedding, an anniversary, or a new home — the pair itself carries the wish.

Why a Paulownia Box
Paulownia wood is light, resists moisture and insects, and moves with changes in humidity — which is why it has been used in Japan for centuries to store what is valuable. A piece delivered in a paulownia box arrives ready to give, and the box itself is part of the gift.

Contents and Dimensions
Rice bowl × 2, booklet, paulownia box.
Mouth diameter: 11.3cm Height: 5.5cm / Foot diameter: 4.5cm / Capacity: 250ml Weight: 160g
As each piece is handmade, slight variations in size may occur.