JICON Chopstick Rests

Designed by renowned designer Masanori Oji and made in Japan by the ancient Touetsugama kiln using the famous creamy white porcelain 'amakusa touseki'. 

These charming chopstick rests shapes come from traditional Japanese forms as well as from nature. They are also designed so that they can be used as small dishes where you can put your own WASABI, ginger or any spice that you wish to use during your meal.

TRIO
Set of 3
69mm width x 36mm depth x 12mm height

TSURUGI [Sword]
Set of 2
69mm width x 36mm depth x 12mm height

FUTABA [Seed Leaf]
Set of 2
69mm width x 33mm depth x 12mm height

FUTABA [Seed Leaf] 
Set of 5
69mm width x 33mm depth x 12mm height

OMODAKA [Tri Leaf] 
Set of 2
69mm diameter x 12mm height

OMODAKA [Tri Leaf] 
Set of 5
69mm diameter x 12mm height

material: porcelain and glaze

packaging: Cardboard and paper

care:

Easy to store as you can stack them together.
Microwavable, dishwasher-safe.

JICON wares all come presented in their own box. Making them the perfect gift.

Important: 

To ensure this ware is right for you, please read more information below about how the JICON glazes will age and gain a patina of use over time. The semi-mat texture and the milky whiteness of the glaze (known as haku-ji) combine to allow the signs of use to emerge. The appreciation of this patina taps into the deep concept of appreciating the passage of time that is so essential to Japanese culture.

Wabi sabi - patina of use over time:

JICON aims to delve into the true essence of porcelain. In a similar way that antique French porcelain shows the age and years of use over time, JICON pieces change slowly over time with use. The semi-mat texture and the milky whiteness of the glaze (known as haku-ji) combine to allow the signs of use to emerge, more than you would see in mass produced or standard shiny white porcelain. There might be some knife marks on the white plates from the dinners over the years for example. JICON calls this the process of cherishing - savouring the varying expressions of the porcelain as time passes by. The visible marks of use seen on traditional haku-ji pieces in Japan are thought of as 'scenery' and have been enjoyed over centuries of haku-ji porcelain use. This appreciation taps into the deep concept of appreciating the passage of time that is so essential to Japanese culture.

The Touetsugama kiln has a history of 350 years in Japan. The kiln makes porcelains for daily life with its traditional white porcelain techniques using Amakusa Touseki (porcelain stone). 

The glazes:

The original white JICON series is made in the famous creamy white porcelain amakusa touseki. Instead of the perfect bluish-white shiny porcelain more commonly seen, JICON created an unbleached whiteness with a half-mat texture to bring out the materiality of the ware. The white glaze is made from glaze derived from the ashes of straw. To enhance the texture even further, this glaze is not stirred before application, allowing chance brown spots composed of iron materials in the clay and glaze to subtly emerge. The soft whiteness of this traditionally made glaze complements the slightly antique feel of the pieces.

The kiln has now introduced their Colour series in three tints made by tinting the unbleached white glaze: Nabana Yellow, Asagi Grey, and Rusty Brown. The introduction of the Colour series infuses a sense of universality into the traditional white porcelain, transcending Japanese and Western boundaries.