Famiware Nebula Ceramic Soy Sauce Dish, set of 6

The glaze on these six dishes pools in the well, a deeper blue that shifts to a pale rim where the clay shows through. Each holds a generous splash of soy sauce, enough for a single dumpling or a bite of sushi. They are small, meant for a careful dab rather than a soak. The set sets six places, one for each person at the table.

The trade-off is the rim. Stoneware is hard and brittle, and a hard tap against a plate or a sink edge leaves a pale chip that does not blend in. That pale chip is the only sign of a mistake. You learn to handle these dishes with a little care, setting them down gently and keeping them separate in the dishwasher basket. They are not a dish for the careless reach.