Arita Imari Blue & Gold Kinrande Chrysanthemum Cup & Saucer (Tokukō, 150 ml)

Arita Imari Blue & Gold Kinrande Chrysanthemum Coffee Cup & Saucer — Hand-Painted by Tokukō (徳幸)

A hand-painted Arita-yaki / Hasami-yaki coffee/tea cup and saucer set in the high-tier 金襴手 (kinrande, “gold brocade”) tradition — a deep cobalt blue underglaze sometsuke (染付) ground covered in extensive overglaze gold leaf, with the named motif 菊華紋 (kikka-mon, chrysanthemum-cluster rosettes) repeated six-plus times around the cup body and ringing the saucer rim, joined by continuous gold karakusa 唐草 scrolling vines. The 8-lobe scalloped (輪花 rinka) rim is finished with lotus-petal cartouches filled with a fine white-on-gold 七宝 shippō reticulated dot pattern, framed by hair-line kinsai gold trim. Made by Tokukō (徳幸) kiln in Saga Prefecture, presented in its branded navy くらしの器 keshōbako — and carries the Arita-yaki cooperative 美術 (bijutsu / “art-tier”) authentication sticker on the saucer underside.

Made by Tokukō / Nanpu / Arita-yaki & Hasami-yaki in Saga Prefecture, Japan, curated by ZenKiln

🌼 The motif — Kikka 菊華 (Chrysanthemum-Cluster)

The chrysanthemum (kiku) is the imperial flower of Japan — adopted by the imperial household in the early Kamakura period and still featured on the 16-petal Imperial Seal today. As a decorative motif, it symbolises longevity, nobility, perfection, and the autumnal season. The kikka-mon repeated-rosette composition is among the most elaborate and gold-intensive of all Imari decoration patterns; this piece carries six full chrysanthemum rosettes around the cup body and matching rosettes ringing the saucer rim. The continuous gold karakusa (唐草) vines connecting the rosettes is itself a symbol of eternity, growth, and perseverance.

🎨 Why this is Kinrande (金襴手) — Gold-Brocade Imari (blue-ground variant)

Kinrande, literally “gold brocade hand”, is the high-tier 17th-century Arita technique that applied gold leaf and gold-line decoration over a coloured ground — originally developed in Arita as a chinoiserie response to Ming-Wanli gold-decorated porcelains. The blue-ground variant of kinrande (this piece) places the gold over a deep cobalt blue underglaze sometsuke 染付 base — technically distinct from the red-ground variant, which uses overglaze akae 赤絵 vermillion as ground. The cobalt blue is fired beneath the glaze in a single high-fire; the overglaze gold + small mori-age white slip dots are added in a lower-temperature second firing. Tokukō kiln continues this layered tradition today.

☕ At the table

• Small espresso, espresso lungo, ristretto, or macchiato (150 mL is generous for espresso, restrained for filter coffee)
• Japanese 紅茶 (kōcha / black tea) — the form is the traditional Japanese kōchawan (紅茶碗皿)
• A petite afternoon-tea or wagashi pairing cup
• A statement collector’s display piece — pairs naturally with Old Imari (古伊万里), other Arita kinrande, and blue-and-white sometsuke pieces

🎁 Gift-ready & sister product

Ships in its branded navy くらしの器 keshōbako (化粧箱) with brand card (cream cursive script + red 有田焼 stamp) — gift-ready as bought. A natural gift for:

• Coffee and tea ritualists
• Hostess and housewarming gifts, corporate gifting
• Weddings, anniversaries, engagements, graduations
• Father’s Day and seasonal table styling
• Old Imari / Arita / Kutani / Japanese tableware collectors

A matching red-ground sister (錦赤地金彩菊華紋 — vermillion akae background, same kikka-mon kinrande motif, same Tokukō kiln, identical 9 × 6.5 cm cup / 15 cm saucer / 150 mL) is available separately — perfect as a pair for a his-and-hers table setting or as a wedding gift.