Objects
Arita is the town in Saga Prefecture where porcelain was first made in Japan, from stone quarried nearby at Izumiyama. Hachiemon Kiln has worked there since 1879, and paints the Cat Conference mug and dish by hand.
At a glance
Maker: Hachiemon Kiln, trading as Daikei
Place: Arita, Saga Prefecture, Japan
Material: Arita porcelain, hand-painted and glazed
Working since: 1879
Pieces: Cat Conference mug and dish
What is Arita porcelain?
Arita ware takes its name from the town where it is made. Porcelain stone was found nearby at Izumiyama in the early 1600s, and Arita became the place where Japan first produced true porcelain rather than earthenware or stoneware. The stone is fired at a high temperature, which gives the finished piece its hard, bright white body.
Who is Hachiemon Kiln?
The kiln traces back to 1879, when Mori Koichiro began carrying pottery stone from Amakusa by boat and horse cart, crushing it by water wheel and firing it himself. The kiln still paints by hand in Arita today, trading under the name Daikei.
How is the Cat Conference pattern painted?
A row of cats stands shoulder to shoulder around the mug, carrying on around the back so the full group is never seen at once. On the dish, the cats gather along one side only, leaving the rest of the rippled edge clear. Each colour is laid inside a drawn black line and pools slightly under the glaze. Underneath, a small mark is brushed in blue by the painter.
Mug or dish: which to choose?
The mug holds 300 ml filled to the brim, nearer 250 ml in ordinary use, and stands 9 cm high without the handle. The dish is a side plate rather than a serving platter, at 14.3 x 14.3 cm and 2.8 cm deep, sized for cake, a few pieces of grilled fish, or whatever sits beside the tea. Many people choose one of each, since the pattern was designed to work as a pair on the table.
Why does each piece look slightly different?
Because the painting is done by hand, the faces come out differently from one piece to the next. Some cats end up wide awake, others half asleep, and the rippled edge of the dish is formed by hand too, so no two are identical. These are signs of the painting rather than faults.
How should it be used and cared for?
Both pieces are dishwasher and microwave safe, though not suitable for the oven. Slight irregularity in the rim and small variation in the glaze belong to the making.
Is Arita porcelain the same as Imari ware?
Imari takes its name from the port the porcelain was historically shipped from, while Arita is the town where it was made. The two names are closely linked, though this collection is made and sold as Arita ware.
Will my mug match the one in the photograph exactly?
Not precisely. The painting is done by hand, so the position of the cats and the depth of colour vary slightly between pieces.
Can it go in the dishwasher?
Yes, along with the microwave. Keep it out of the oven.