Kutani Ware Porcelain Good Fortune Cup, 180ml

At a glance

• Each pattern carries its own good-fortune meaning, making the choice personal as well as decorative
• Glossy, slightly raised Kutani colour gives the pattern depth you can feel under your fingers
• 180ml capacity works naturally for a home flat white, tea or everyday coffee

Choosing the pattern is part of the appeal because each one carries a different meaning.

Neko draws on Japan’s familiar association of cats with welcome and good fortune. Umekiku pairs plum, admired for resilience, with chrysanthemum’s longstanding connection with longevity. Tsubaki uses camellia, an evergreen motif traditionally associated with longevity and protection. Chidori shows plovers with waves, an old image of overcoming rough waters together and therefore associated with household harmony.

The decoration has a physical presence too. Seikou Kiln’s glass-like wa enogu overglaze sits slightly raised from the porcelain, giving the colours depth and allowing the pattern to be felt rather than appearing as a completely flat print.

The 180ml capacity puts it in a useful everyday range. It has enough room for a flat white at home and works just as naturally for tea or coffee, giving customers who prefer a handleless cup a familiar drinking volume rather than a small traditional teacup.

Several of the motifs also continue across matching Seikou tableware, so a favourite pattern can stand alone or gradually become part of a wider setting.

- Umekiku set: plate, mug, lucky cup and rice bowl
- Ishidatami set: plate, mug and rice bowl
- Chidori set: plate, lucky cup and rice bowl