Two nesting white porcelain cups by Yuji Murakami

These two Japanese porcelain cups fit together to form a small box, an object that is both useful and unique. The almost ceremonial gesture of opening and closing reveals a refined design where the softness of the curves and the whiteness of the material create a calm presence. A hybrid and delicate duo, designed for the table as much as for decoration, which will naturally find its place in a contemporary interior.

The ceramist
Yuji Murakami was born in 1985 in Fukuoka. He studied at the Tajimi City Pottery Design Institute, became Ryota Aoki's assistant, and then set up his own studio in Gifu. Since 2015, he has lived and worked in Okubo, a mountain hamlet in Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture, where he opened his own space, Oyama no Dōguten. He exhibits regularly in Japan and abroad. His approach favors the simplicity of volumes, the softness of textures, and a sensitive precision, in the service of living objects.

The technique and the decor
Each cup has a cylindrical shape that is very soft to the touch, with a slightly rounded rim that ensures a comfortable grip. The surface is covered with a white glaze, with fine drips that subtly enliven the porcelain's skin. The nesting transforms the whole into a small box, with the bottom of one becoming the lid of the other, an ingenious solution that makes the object nomadic and modular. The smallest cup bears the ceramist's signature engraved under its base.

Practical information
Place of manufacture
Japan, Okubo in Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture

Dimensions
Upper cup used as a lid: Diameter 8.8 cm - Height 4 cm
Lower cup: Diameter 8 cm - Height 4.5 cm
Total height in box format 5.7 cm

Weight
228 gr

Materials
Semi-porcelain

Period
Contemporary

Care instructions
After use, drain the water and let it air dry. Avoid thermal shock and abrasive products. Wipe with a soft cloth. Dishwasher and microwave safe.