September 22, 2009

• From Sept. 22 - Arita

  This is not a guy's entry, so if you hate shopping, just skip this.  Dotter expressed an interest in ceramics this trip to Fukuoka, so we obliged her by going to the ceramic town of Arita.  I had seen the local museum already, but Hubby and Dotter wanted to go, so I went somewhere that I had not seen before.  I caught a taxi and got dropped off at a shopping mall!

  

  I can't bring home everything that I like in analog form, so much of it I brought home digitally. 

  

  This is an antique dish.  I really love this style, but not the price.

  

  Yours for $90.

  

  Above and below are cups and mugs from the Gagyu Gama Kiln, but I already got some pottery from this kiln last time I was in Arita.  (Shopper's regret coming on?)

  

  No, I guess not.  Sigh....  $110 a cup...  I have such good taste.

  

  Now these were lovely at over $200 EACH - auspicious pine, bamboo and plum design done up in gold and cobalt.  Alas, left behind.  Hmm...  Maybe I am in a museum after all.

  

  Dorky rabbits.

  

  These dishes have a samurai sword guard design.

  

  

  

  Wanna redo your throne room in ceramic?

  

  

  I liked these colors.

  

  

  I am not sure what I would have done with a ceramic brick.

  

  I like roses, but...

  

  Same pattern, different sizes.

  

  Doo-dads to dangle from your cell phone

  

  I ALMOST got a couple of these.

  

  A fellow was giving a live sax concert, but I can't really stop to listen because I am only halfway through the shops and more than halfway through my allotted time.

  

  Dishes with designs of carp streamers.

  

  

  Now I did bring home two of these bunny dishes.  They gave me a good price, but I will still use them VERY CAREFULLY.

  

  Dunno how them make these.  They must cut holes, fire them and then reglaze them with clear glaze that fills in the holes.  Just admired these for $100 each.

  

  This bunny dish was nicey pricey, too.  The store proprietor said I had good taste.  Yeah, I know.

  

  

  

  

  This is a shop where ceramic glaze is sold, and you can see sample of the colors.

  

  

   

  

  

  Now there is only so much dorkiness that can be tolerated!

  

  

  These were real cats sleeping in the display window.

  

  

  Bicycles painted with a ceramic "tako karakusa" design.

  

  I met up with Hubby and Dotter after our respective shopping/museum activities, and we had a cup of coffee at a shop that lets you pick out your own cup.  Make mine Meissen, please!!

  

  

   

  

  Back to the stores!

  

  This reminded me of Grandma LaVerne for some reason.  I was sorely tempted, but where would I put it?

  

  Also nice, but I am blessed with enough dishes, and Hubby is not crazy about eating pink meals anyway.  He was interested in the little bunny sake cup though.

  

  Whoever lives here is putting pottery shards to good use.

  

  • 00:11
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