Ri Sanpei

In 17th-century Japan, a Korean potter known locally as Ri Sanpei unearthed porcelain ore, a material that would birth a fresh genre of ceramics. Sanpei’s creations were painted in a style known as sometsuke, inspired by simple and rustic Chinese designs. Named Arita ware after the location of the discovery, this new porcelain won Sanpei honour and acclaim. 13 generations later, his descendant, Kanagae Yoshihito, decided to reestablish the kiln and revive the forgotten techniques of Arita ware for 21st-century living. A reverence for imperfection sets today’s Ri Sanpei pieces apart – the human touch that aligns with the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi.