This Sobachoco [EARTH] is inspired by images of the Earth as seen from space.
The pattern is created using a transfer printing technique that enhances the material and glaze of each individual cup. The organic beauty of the design results from a high level of craftsmanship that cannot be achieved through conventional transfer printing techniques alone. Shapes reminiscent of seas, forests, sands, and clouds are printed on cobalt-blue glazes.
[about SOBACHOCO]
The sobachoco has maintained its trapezoidal shape for 400 years, ever since its invention. It traces its origins to Hizen (present-day Saga and Nagasaki Prefectures), home to the port of Imari, from which Imari porcelain spread throughout Japan. Contrary to its name, the sobachoco was never intended for soba. It was originally used as a small bowl to hold side dishes such as sashimi, salads, and shiokara preserve at celebrations and kaiseki meals. It wasn’t until the Edo period that soba become popular among the general public. People would often use their sobachoco to indulge in a quick aperitif called sobamae before filling it with dipping sauce for soba, a tradition that soon caught on across Japan. Huge numbers of designs were created, reflecting the trends and culture of the eras in which they were made.
Maruhiro fires its ceramics in the town of Hasami, Nagasaki, a cradle of porcelain manufacturing in Japan. They deliver a wide variety of sobachoco that utilize a rich history of techniques unique to the Hasami area. Culture and craftsmanship in every cup.
