CELADON TULIP FORTUNE BOWL (MID-CENTURY)

An unusual striking shape, these bowls could be lilies, but their previous owner has always thought of them as tulips. Made of Arita-yaki porcelain and once belonging to an old "ryokan" (traditional Japanese inn), their three petals form shallow bowls to serve side dishes at the table.

There’s a simplicity to these, the petals are designed to artfully frame foods in white, while the exterior is a silken, almost dusky celadon glaze. But there is an extra decorative feature that makes them extra special. Each petal is emblazoned with a different lucky kanji — "fuku" meaning happiness, "kotobuki" for "long life" and "en," for "good relationships." These dishes bless diners with good fortune as they eat.

Porcelain
Height 8cm x Diameter 13cm