Tuesday, November 24, 2009

warm and cool

Do you change your dishes/tableware along with the seasons?

In Hawaii, we don't really have seasons, so I've never grown up with doing this.

On the other hand, my MIL changes her dishes/tableware with the seasons.

"Cool" dishes used mostly in Summer are clear, white and/or blue (like ice).

"Warm" dishes used mostly during the Winter are brown, green and earthy looking.

Of course, there are decoration type dishes too, with sakura (cherry blossoms), momiji (fall foliage) or fruits to match the seasons.

There is a vendor that comes to our shopping arcade several times a year. He mainly sells Arita-yaki and Mino-yaki (Two types of popular Japanese ceramics. Most areas around Japan have their own type of ceramics).

From what I've seen, I think Arita-yaki uses brighter colors like yellow, some reds and Mino-yaki uses mainly blue and white.

While you would expect his prices to be expensive, he actually sells his wares very reasonably, most under 300 yen (about US$3). I kind of overheard him talking with another customer and I think he takes defects or discontinued items off of department stores' hands then sells them, which is why he can sell them so reasonably.

Did you know that the Japanese got their blue and white technique from Delft?

Anyway, most of my dishes are blue and white, since they are my favorite colors, so I don't have many "warm" dishes, but I've put away my clear glass dishes for now.

11 comments:

  1. Wow, you have some very pretty dishes! And nice variety. I only realized my lack of dishware since I've started posting food pictures on my blog. Golden Wheat just ain't cutting it.

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  2. Thanks Jalna, most of my dishes I have bought at the 100 yen stores here, I do have quite a lot though. You should try to use what you have and not go out of your way to get new stuff.

    Take care.
    Kat

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  3. I don't have seasonal tableware due to the fact that I don't have the space to store them! But if I did have enough space...heh heh....I'd have something for spring, summer, fall and winter. Weeeeeeee!!

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  4. Beautiful dishes! I am with you--bring on the blue and white--they are my favorites too.

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  5. I think if I had more space I would definitely have more dishes too Rowena :)

    Thanks Debinhawaii, me loves blue and white also :)

    Take care you two.
    Kat

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  6. Kat,
    You have some beautiful pieces! I really like that dish that's in the third picture from the top!
    I remember not being much into pottery before coming to Japan, but I have now developed a sort of obsession with traditional Japanese tableware and they way they go with each season.

    I would *love* to find some Mino-yaki pieces! They sound lovely!

    A good way to find beautiful pieces of traditional pottery is by exploring nice recycle shops! Just a couple of weeks ago, at one of these stores in my area, I found a pair of stunning Fukagawa Seiji plates for only 350 yen each! I was so excited, especially when I found out that the same pair of plates sells for almost 14,000 yen on the Fukagawa website!

    Kat, it's always a pleasure to read your blog!

    Hugs from Kanagawa Prefecture,

    Mari

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  7. That dish was actually only 105 yen, Mari :) You always write such nice comments! I am not much into collecting but know that if I were, I would check out the recycle shops like you to get a good deal!

    Take care.
    Kat

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  8. I guess I'm incredibly boring as I only have white, plain, glazed everything. But they're so easy to replace if I break or chip one.

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  9. I think it is quite smart to have them all one color Lyvvie, some of mine have been broken and I haven't been to replace them :(

    Take care.
    Kat

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  10. I like the idea of changing dishes with the seasons.

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  11. It is fun using different dishes for the different seasons Barbara :)

    Take care.
    Kat

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