Speckled Ceramic Cup, 60ml

At a glance

• Stone-like rounded form and matt speckled surface make the ceramic easy to mistake for a small river stone
• Individually made, with subtle differences in silhouette, speckling and surface
• By Kyoto artist Masako Nakagami, whose ceramic practice also includes several years working in London

At first glance, it is easy to mistake this small cup for a smooth stone.

Its softly rounded form, matt white surface and scattered darker speckles give it an almost mineral character. Held closely in the hands, the slight irregularities in shape and surface become even more noticeable, with each piece carrying small differences of its own.

The natural quality fits closely with Masako Nakagami’s wider ceramic practice, where rounded forms, tactile surfaces and influences from the landscape around her Kyoto studio appear repeatedly. Nakagami also spent several years developing her ceramic work in London before returning to Kyoto.

At 60ml, the cup works for tea, sake or another short pour without being tied to one particular drink. Its appeal comes from the combination of compact scale, stone-like appearance and the individual character of an artist-made object.