Authenticity & Product
Is your Japanese porcelain authentic?
Yes. Every piece in our catalogue is sourced directly from established Japanese kilns — Kutani workshops in Ishikawa Prefecture, Koransha in Arita and Mino-yaki producers in Gifu Prefecture. We do not sell reproductions, licensed copies or pieces manufactured outside Japan.
We work only with producers whose lineage and production methods we can verify. Provenance is available on request for any piece.
Where is Kutani porcelain made?
Kutani porcelain is made in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. The tradition originates from the 17th century, when the first kiln was established in the village of Kutani in the Kaga domain. Modern Kutani continues to be produced and hand-painted by artisans in the Kanazawa area of Ishikawa — the same region, the same materials, the same overglaze techniques refined over four centuries.
What is the difference between Kutani, Koransha and Mino-yaki?
Kutani is a hand-painted overglaze porcelain tradition from Ishikawa Prefecture. Bold colour, layered mineral pigments, expressive character. Requires hand-washing. For collectors and those who prefer statement pieces over minimalism.
Koransha is a specific manufacturer in Arita, Saga Prefecture, founded in 1875. Refined white porcelain with cobalt underglaze decoration. Restrained, architectural. Dishwasher safe for pieces without gold accents.
Mino-yaki is a broad family of ceramics from Gifu Prefecture with over 1,300 years of production. Natural ash, iron and celadon glazes. The most practical for daily use — generally dishwasher and microwave safe. The foundation of any well-built table.
Read our full comparison guide for more detail.
Are the pieces handmade?
Kutani pieces are hand-painted by artisans in Ishikawa Prefecture — each piece of decoration is applied by hand, which is why no two pieces are identical even within the same pattern. This is a feature, not a limitation.
Koransha combines precision forming with hand-applied cobalt decoration. The forming process uses refined techniques developed over 140 years, while the decoration is applied by hand before the final glaze firing.
Mino-yaki varies by producer — we note hand-finishing and hand-glazing where it applies in individual product listings.
Why does my piece look slightly different from the product photo?
Slight variations in glaze tone, brushwork and surface texture are a natural and expected characteristic of handcrafted Japanese ceramics. They are produced by the kiln firing process, the mineral composition of the glaze and the hand of the individual artisan who made the piece.
Photography can also affect how color reads — the actual piece may appear slightly warmer or cooler depending on lighting conditions in your home. These variations are not defects. They are what distinguishes handcrafted work from mass production, and why each piece is genuinely unique.
Will each piece look identical to others in the same pattern?
No — and this is expected and intentional. Hand-painted Kutani pieces show minor variations in brushwork, color saturation and stroke weight between pieces with the same pattern. Koransha may show slight differences in cobalt intensity depending on kiln placement during firing. Mino-yaki shows glaze pooling, surface texture and colour variation inherent to natural glaze materials.
These are marks of authenticity. A piece that is too perfect has usually been made by a machine.
Care & Use
Is Kutani porcelain dishwasher safe?
No. Kutani pieces with hand-painted overglaze decoration must always be hand-washed. The overglaze pigments sit above the protective glaze layer and are vulnerable to the alkaline detergents and heat cycles used in dishwashers. Repeated machine washing causes the colors to fade and lose their depth over time.
Pieces with gold or metallic overglaze decoration must also never go in a microwave — the metal will arc and damage both the piece and the appliance.
Is Koransha porcelain dishwasher safe?
Koransha pieces with cobalt underglaze decoration and no metallic accents are generally suitable for gentle dishwasher cycles. The cobalt is fired beneath the protective top glaze at over 1,250°C — it is physically sealed inside the piece and is significantly more resistant to washing than overglaze decoration.
Use a mild, phosphate-free detergent and disable the heat-dry function — air-dry instead. Load with space between pieces so nothing can contact anything else during the cycle.
Pieces with gold or overglaze accents must be hand-washed. Check individual product listings.
Is Mino-yaki dishwasher safe?
Most Mino-yaki ceramics in our catalogue are dishwasher safe. The natural ash and iron glazes are stable and the clay bodies are dense enough to tolerate regular machine washing. This is one of the reasons Mino-yaki is our recommended foundation for everyday table use.
Check individual product listings — specific pieces, particularly those with overglaze decoration or metallic accents, may vary.
Can Japanese porcelain go in the microwave?
Plain glazed and underglaze-decorated Japanese porcelain without metallic accents can generally be used in a microwave. Most Mino-yaki and plain Koransha pieces fall into this category.
Never microwave pieces with gold, silver or platinum decoration — the metal will arc, damaging the piece and potentially the appliance. This applies to Kutani with gold overglaze, Koransha with gold rim work, and any piece with metallic decoration regardless of tradition. Check individual product listings for specific guidance.
Can Japanese porcelain go in the oven?
No. None of the pieces in our catalogue are suitable for oven use. Japanese tableware porcelain and ceramics are fired at high temperatures during production, but the glazed surfaces are not designed for the sustained dry heat of a domestic oven during cooking. Do not use any Kutani, Koransha or Mino-yaki piece in an oven.
Are the colors on Kutani porcelain durable?
Yes — if cared for correctly. Kutani's overglaze pigments are durable under hand-washing with mild detergent and a soft cloth. A well-maintained Kutani piece retains its color depth after decades of regular daily use.
The colors will fade if exposed to alkaline dishwasher detergents, abrasive cleaning products, prolonged soaking, or acids (vinegar, citrus juice) resting on the surface for extended periods. Hand-wash, dry immediately, store with padding between pieces.
How should I store Japanese porcelain without scratching it?
Place a soft felt pad, cloth napkin or purpose-made ceramic separator between every stacked piece — without exception. The unglazed foot rim of Japanese porcelain is abrasive and will scratch the glaze surface of pieces below it if stacked without protection. This damage accumulates gradually and is not immediately obvious, but it is irreversible.
Store in a dry location, away from direct sunlight and significant temperature fluctuations. Pieces in regular daily use suffer far less storage damage than pieces kept in a cabinet — use them.
Delivery
Do you deliver Japanese tableware to Dubai?
Yes. We are based in Dubai and deliver across the city. Standard delivery within Dubai takes 3–5 business days. Each piece is packed individually with archival materials to protect it during transit — we do not use generic packing.
Do you ship Japanese tableware across the UAE?
Yes. We ship to all seven Emirates — Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain. Delivery to Abu Dhabi and other Emirates typically takes 4–7 business days from dispatch.
Do you ship to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and other GCC countries?
Yes. We ship to Saudi Arabia (including Riyadh, Jeddah, NEOM), Kuwait City, Doha, Muscat and Bahrain. GCC orders typically arrive within 7–10 business days. Worldwide shipping is also available — contact us for destinations outside the GCC.
How long does delivery take?
Dubai: 3–5 business days. Abu Dhabi and other UAE Emirates: 4–7 business days. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman: 7–10 business days. Worldwide: 10–18 business days depending on destination.
For trade orders or large quantities, please contact us to confirm lead times before placing an order — some pieces require production confirmation with Japanese producers.
Can Japanese porcelain go in the oven?
No. None of the pieces in our catalogue are suitable for oven use. Japanese tableware porcelain and ceramics are fired at high temperatures during production, but the glazed surfaces are not designed for the sustained dry heat of a domestic oven during cooking. Do not use any Kutani, Koransha or Mino-yaki piece in an oven.
Are the colors on Kutani porcelain durable?
Yes — if cared for correctly. Kutani's overglaze pigments are durable under hand-washing with mild detergent and a soft cloth. A well-maintained Kutani piece retains its color depth after decades of regular daily use.
The colors will fade if exposed to alkaline dishwasher detergents, abrasive cleaning products, prolonged soaking, or acids (vinegar, citrus juice) resting on the surface for extended periods. Hand-wash, dry immediately, store with padding between pieces.
How are pieces packaged for delivery?
Each piece is packaged individually. We use archival tissue, appropriate cushioning and a rigid outer box sized to the piece. We do not use generic packing materials or oversized boxes with loose fill. The packaging is designed to protect each piece during transit to Dubai and across the UAE — including the longer distances involved in GCC shipping.
What happens if a piece arrives damaged?
Contact us at info@paeantableware.ae within 48 hours of delivery with photographs of the damaged piece and the original packaging. We will arrange a replacement or full refund depending on stock availability. Please do not discard the packaging until the issue is fully resolved — it may be needed for the claims process.
Building a Table
Is this tableware for everyday use or display only?
For everyday use. Every piece we select is evaluated for how it performs in daily life — weight, glaze durability, comfort in the hand and versatility across different meal types. Japanese ceramics are designed to be used, washed and returned to the table regularly, not stored in a cabinet between occasions.
A piece that is only used on special occasions is, in our view, not earning its place at the table.
Can I mix Kutani and Koransha on the same table?
Yes — and we actively encourage it. The contrast between Kutani's expressive hand-painted color and Koransha's restrained cobalt-on-white is one of the most considered combinations possible on a Japanese-influenced table. Adding Mino-yaki as the practical foundation ties both together.
The result looks collected rather than matched. This is how the most interesting tables are built — not from a single service, but from pieces chosen at different moments for different reasons.
Do you offer complete dinner sets or only individual pieces?
We sell both individual pieces and curated sets. We generally recommend building a table gradually rather than purchasing a complete set — start with a Mino-yaki foundation and add Kutani or Koransha pieces over time as you find pieces that feel right.
If you want help composing a complete table setting — for your home, a gift or a project — contact us and we will advise based on your context and preferences.
How do I start building a Japanese table setting?
Start with 4–6 Mino-yaki bowls and 6–8 plates as the practical foundation — dishwasher safe, versatile across all meal types, and layerable with almost anything. Then add 2–4 Kutani or Koransha pieces as visual focal points — a pair of plates, a set of teacups, one statement serving piece.
Introduce more pieces over time as you find things that feel right. Read our journal guide A Table Worth Returning To for a full framework.
Trade & B2B
Can restaurants purchase Japanese tableware from Paean?
Yes. We work with restaurants and hospitality projects across Dubai and the UAE. We advise on combinations that balance glaze durability with visual clarity for daily service — typically Mino-yaki as the operational foundation and Koransha or Kutani as statement course pieces.
Trade pricing is available for qualifying orders. Contact us via our Trade & Projects page with your project details.
Do you work with interior designers and FF&E procurement?
Yes. We supply tableware for residential and hospitality interior projects across Dubai and the UAE. We can assist with table styling direction, layering across collections, selecting versatile base sets and coordinating lead times with project schedules. Contact us early for large or time-sensitive projects — some pieces require production confirmation with Japanese producers.
Do you offer trade pricing for Japanese tableware in the UAE?
Yes. Trade pricing is available for qualifying orders from restaurants, interior designers, hospitality groups and corporate gifting programmes. Contact us at info@paeantableware.ae with your project type, location, estimated quantities and timeline and we will respond with a proposal within two business days.
About Paean
Where is Paean based?
Paean is based in Dubai, UAE. We operate primarily online, which allows us to maintain a focused, curated selection while delivering directly to homes, restaurants and interior projects across the UAE and GCC. Worldwide shipping is also available.
Why is the brand called Paean?
A paean is a song of praise. The name reflects our belief that a well-chosen table is an act of attention — a quiet tribute to the people sharing it. We chose it because it captures the intent behind everything we do: selecting pieces that make a meal worth noticing, and a table worth returning to.
How does Paean select which pieces to carry?
We apply three criteria to every piece before it enters the catalogue: proportion and balance in the hand, glaze quality and durability, and versatility across different meals and settings. We handle every piece before listing it — a photograph cannot communicate weight or glaze depth.
We do not operate a marketplace or carry large stock. We select slowly and release pieces in small groups. Read the full selection philosophy on our How We Select page.