Wanbu Bowl, 4-sun — Okinawa

A "4-sun wanbu" from Yokotaya Kiln, charming in its traditional Okinawan form.
"Wanbu" is an Okinawan word for a bowl whose rim is flattened, turning outward. The striking shape of the rim frames the food, lifting even an unremarkable dish into something composed and three-dimensional. At approximately 12cm across (4 sun) it is an easy small-bowl size, and its depth makes it useful for dressed dishes, chilled tofu and vinegared dishes, as well as for side dishes with liquid or something to go with a drink. A bowl that will come out often, its plain warmth — only handwork gives it — settling comfortably into the table.