Mamezara Neko Atsume (Set of 3) is...

• This is a set of three small lacquerware plates, each hand-painted with a sleeping cat in the traditional Urushi-e (pigmented lacquer painting) technique.

Cats have long been cherished companions in human life — playing freely one moment, then curling up to sleep in the most unexpected of places. Their carefree, unhurried nature brings a quiet sense of comfort and ease to our daily lives. Presented here are three cats whose favourite resting spot happens to be atop these small lacquer plates. Too endearing to disturb, they invite you to slow down and savour your own pace at the table.
The Urushi-e technique — in which pigments are blended into URUSHI lacquer to achieve both a lustrous sheen and a richness of colour — is employed here by skilled craftsmen who have painted each cat individually by hand. Just as every cat has its own distinct markings and expression, each plate bears its own subtle character; slight variations in the balance of coloured lacquer and in seasonal humidity during the curing process mean that no two pieces are ever identical. The cat that arrives in your hands will be one of a kind in all the world. We hope you will enjoy its quiet company over tea or a meal, at your own gentle pace.