Kutani Ware Porcelain Cup, Gold Leaf, 370ml

At a glance

• Real gold leaf is fired over the decorated porcelain, creating a luminous surface with natural variation
• Made in Ishikawa, bringing Kutani Ware together with the region’s centuries-old gold-leaf tradition
• Broad areas of gold catch the light differently as the cup turns, making the surface itself the focal point

Gold is the reason this cup immediately stands apart.

Gold leaf is applied over the decorated porcelain and fired again, becoming part of the finished surface rather than simply sitting on top. The resulting pattern shifts between brighter and softer areas as the cup moves in the light, with small differences from piece to piece.

The material also has a particularly strong connection to where the cup is made. Kutani Ware comes from Ishikawa Prefecture, while nearby Kanazawa has developed one of Japan’s defining gold-leaf traditions over roughly four centuries. Today, Kanazawa accounts for around 99% of Japan’s domestic gold-leaf production.

That regional connection gives the decoration more context: two crafts associated with Ishikawa meeting on one object, rather than gold being added simply for visual richness.

The generous porcelain form gives the decoration plenty of uninterrupted surface, allowing the gold to remain the main feature whether the cup is being used or simply sitting on the table.