Get the Look: Japan, May 2008: 2000s Archive : gourmet.com

This potpourri of cups and bowls is admirably suited for serving a multitude of side dishes. 1. Mary Anne Davis handmade porcelain Low bowl ($125; forthatspecialgift.com, 212-769-2510). 2. & 3. Alice Goldsmith Hammered porcelain bowls ($53 and $82; materialpossessions.com, 312-280-4885). 4., 7., & 8. Japanese hand-glazed ceramic teacups ($18, $18, and $22; takashimaya-ny.com, 212-350-0100). 5. Shumpei Yamaki wood-fired stoneware rice bowl ($80; saranyc.com, 212-772-3243). 6. Christiane Perrochon handmade stoneware bowl ($110; takashimaya-ny.com, 212-350-0100).

The adjective may be overworked, but paper-thin perfectly describes this Japanese glassware. The sake set attests to Shotoku Studio’s craftsmanship and comes in a wooden storage box ($95; saranyc.com, 212-772-3243); the tumblers are tall enough to accommodate everything from gin-and-tonics to mojitos ($12.10 each; easternaccent.com, 978-443-4308).

There are all manner of wooden cooking utensils on the market, but few are quite as appealing—or as eco-friendly—as these from Bambu. The Give It a Rest spoons (with spoon rests built into the handles) and the Curvy Servers are crafted from a single piece of organically grown bamboo (spoons $3.95 each, servers $9.95; bambu.greenfeet.com, 888-562-8873).

With their textured exterior and smooth interior, potter Alice Goldsmith’s classy handmade porcelain bowls will garner attention on any table ($53 and $82; materialpossessions.com, 312-280-4885).

It’s no wonder that these intricately speckled little leaf trays look so realistic: They’re actually veneered magnolia leaves ($10.50 each; Dandelion, 888-548-1968). The bamboo chopsticks are technically disposable, but they’re so neat-looking that you’ll want to keep them around ($4.25; muji.com, 212-334-2002).

Inspired by Japanese ceramic techniques, Wisconsin potter Mike Weber wood-fires his pieces, resulting in stunning variations in textures and colors. A prime example is this commanding, thick slab of a platter ($330; saranyc.com, 212-772-3243).

Like cast-iron kettles of old, Nanbu’s version is made to last; yet details like a streamlined spout and wooden handle give it a modern touch ($300; tortoiselife.com, 310-314-8448). Bamboo mugs in Japan can be used for myriad beverages—beer, tea, sake, soda—and they don’t break or shatter, so the outdoor-dining possibilities are endless ($16.50 each; Dandelion, 888-548-1968).

English potter Joanna Still’s smoke-fired vessel is a conundrum. Though it is made of ceramic, it looks like metal, and the mix of shades is amazing—gold gives way to orange, which fades into browns and deep grays. And though it appears to be chunky and roughly textured, it’s rather delicate and smooth to the touch ($795; eskandar.com, 212-533-4200).

This spare, minimalist Square Line plate by Hanako Nakazato looks very today, but her work is steeped in a long tradition of Japanese pottery. Not at all surprising, given that Nakazato is a 14th-generation Japanese potter ($120, available in June; saranyc.com, 212-772-3243).

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