Japanese mug, blue and white patchwork

A mug that puts several blue designs together, the way you would sew pieces of fabric.

On a slightly greyish white background, three patterns share the surface. A panel of small five-petalled flowers, closely scattered. Next to it, a slanted crosshatch drawn with a livelier line, which recalls a woven cloth. And, on the side, finer swirls that look like lace. The panels touch without blending, just like in a patchwork.

The blue is a deep indigo, the one long associated with Japanese blue and white tableware. A thin brown line edges the rim and the outline of the handle, and the inside stays a very soft bluish grey.

The shape is flared: narrow at the base, wider at the rim. The bottom of the mug is left as bare brown clay, without glaze, which makes it look as though it rests on a small pedestal. This contrast between raw clay and glazed decoration is a big part of its charm.

The mug is shaped in a mould; all the rest of the work is done by hand, including applying the decoration with transfer paper. The joins between the panels can therefore vary a little from one piece to another.

For morning coffee, tea or hot chocolate. Made in Japan, in the Mino region.

Highlights

• Patchwork design: small flowers, crosshatching and swirls brought together on one mug.
• Blue and white: the classic colours of Japanese tableware, in a freer composition.
• Brown clay foot: the unglazed base looks like a small pedestal.
• Flared shape: the rim opens wide, pleasant to drink from.
• Natural variations: the placement of the decoration changes slightly from one mug to another.

Product information

• Type: mug with handle
• Material: ceramic
• Origin: made in Japan (Toki-Tajimi area, Gifu Prefecture, home of Mino ware)
• Dimensions: Ø 8.5 cm, height 8.8 cm
• Shape: flared, unglazed foot
• Colours: indigo blue and white, bluish grey inside, brown foot
• Pattern: patchwork of small flowers, crosshatching and swirls
• Finish: glazed, brown line on the rim and handle
• Presentation: sold individually
• Style: traditional Japanese, revisited

How to use

Ideal for filter coffee, tea or an everyday hot drink. Sold individually, it mixes easily with other blue and white mugs to build a mismatched set.

For care, hand washing is preferable and the dishwasher is not recommended, to protect the decoration and the bare clay foot. It can go in the microwave.

Frequently asked questions

Why is it called patchwork?

Because the decoration puts several different patterns side by side, cut into panels, like pieces of fabric sewn together.

Why is the foot not glazed?

It is a style choice: the bare brown clay contrasts with the blue decoration and gives the mug a warmer base.

Is the decoration brush-painted?

No. The mug is shaped in a mould and finished by hand, and the decoration is applied with transfer paper.