Kawazoe Seizan & Stefan Diez
This is a convenient yet distinct collection of tableware for everyday use that balances Western and Eastern eating habits. The porcelain industry has developed details that became common all over the world and are the result of efficient production processes. Diez erased these expected elements, removing the feet and conventional plate rims, and in doing so developed a series of forms that put the porcelain closer to the hand, letting the user feel the subtleness and precision of these soft shapes. Details such as handles add an iconic character to the range creating contrast between their easy curved form and the very delicate, taut and even body of the vessel.
Diez employed some of the typical craft details in his designs that pottery Kawazoe Seizan is able to convey thanks to the tight local network of craftsmen, and combined them with industrial processes. The irregular peaked grinding surface in the grater uses a technique owned by pottery Kyuemon whereas the holes in the tea strainer are made in the Hotarude technique - a skill that is unique to Arita where porcelain is decorated with small holes and transparent glaze.
