ALEXCIOUS

Hard to believe it's not real knitwear!

Looks authentic, even close up!

Handmade in Setomono white porcelain, the external unglazed chunky knit sweater texture contrasts beautifully with the smooth glazed pastel tones inside. Choose from all white or white with hues of green, pink or blue. Great for both warm and cold beverages, and a cozy companion for hot cocoa.

Makes a great gift for 'knitty' friends and family - Too sweet!

Microwave and dishwasher safe.

History of Setomono

The term Setomono (literally, ‘objects of Seto’) refers to ceramic-ware created in the city of Seto.

Seto, near Nagoya, is home to one of the six ancient kilns of medieval Japan (Nihon Rokkoyo). With a production history going back some 1300 years, the longest of any area in Japan, the location of the city makes it ideal for creating pottery and ceramics. Local soil contains good quality porcelain clay and silica (used in making glass), and there are forests nearby to provide firewood for fuel.

During the Kamakura-Period (1158~1333), Seto became known for producing ‘tenmoku’ tea bowls, which had previously always been imported from China. As it was the only place in Japan where pottery was glazed, Seto was the sole area able to create black-glazed bowls. As a result, the form, style and colors of its products differ greatly from those of the other five Nihon Rokkoyo.

The tea ceremony, first observed by the Imperial family around 815, was developed in tandem with ceramic-ware. It became so established that emperors gave their subjects tea or tea-utensils as Imperial gifts. Tea-utensils, accordingly, came to be regarded as valuable treasures.

By the end of the 16th century, enjoyment of the tea ceremony had become wide spread among the warrior class, which brought an exponential increase in the demand for tea-utensils, and led to one of the golden periods of Japanese ceramic production in Seto and the neighboring Mino region. Encouraged by the demands of the tea ceremony and the aesthetics of tea master, Oribe, individual artisans began to explore their craft most creatively.

Many of the most famous Raku and Shino bowls were produced at this time, and even in those days were hugely valuable. The Jesuit priest Louis Frois (1532~1597) wrote that one tea bowl equaled the price of the most precious jewels in Europe. As a result, Setomono is as common a term for ceramics in Japan as china is in England.