CHALICE / Tonoko (Sand Beige) [Outlet]

1. Around 20% off the standard price, in limited numbers
2. Cosmetic seconds - nothing that affects use
3. 13 cm high, developed with a veterinarian
4. Shallow and wide, so whiskers stay clear
5. Hygienic porcelain. Microwave and dishwasher safe

A few marks. Still entirely good
for everyday use.

Every &CAT bowl is handmade Mino ware from Japan. Because each one passes through a potter's hands, no two are identical in how the glaze pools or how the firing lands. That is the character of a one-off piece, and &CAT sets an inspection standard - pieces falling inside it ship as standard stock.
Outlet pieces are the ones that fall slightly outside it. Black specks or pinholes that stand out a little more than usual, a small area where the glaze has come away - enough that "character" starts to feel like the wrong word, and by our own rules they wouldn't be sold. But the difference is only in how they look. Strength, hygiene and the experience of using them are exactly the same as a standard piece.
It seemed a waste to lose them, so a small number of these are offered as outlet pieces at a special price for the summer sale. If you've been thinking about a bowl for your cat's everyday, this is a good moment.

What "outlet" means here, in practice.

The reason differs from piece to piece. Some have only one of the following; some have several. Here are the three most common.

1. Black specks

Minerals in the clay or the glaze can come through as small black points during firing. It happens with Mino ware and with clay-bodied ceramics generally, and standard pieces show it too - on outlet pieces there are simply more of them, or they sit somewhere more noticeable. It isn't dirt, and there is no issue with your cat's mouth touching it.

2. Pinholes

Tiny holes or points in the surface of the glaze, about the size of a needle tip. They occur naturally during firing and appear on standard pieces too - on outlet pieces there are more of them, or they sit somewhere more visible. They have no effect on strength or hygiene.

3. Glaze that has come away

Some pieces have a small area along the rim or the foot where the glaze has lifted slightly. These are not sharp chips, so there is no problem with a cat putting its mouth there, or with everyday use.

About CHALICE

A food bowl developed with Midori Morioka, deputy director of Annie Animal Hospital, built around what is genuinely kind to a cat. The 13 cm pedestal eases the load on the neck and joints, and the shallow, wide shape keeps whiskers off the rim, so meals stay calm. At around 780 g it has enough weight not to go over when a robot vacuum bumps into it.
Full details are on the standard product page.
→ View CHALICE

Please read before ordering

- The reason and the condition differ from piece to piece: one of the above, or several.
- You cannot choose which piece you receive.
- The images above are examples of condition. What ships will be comparable.
- There is no issue with use - neither strength nor hygiene.
- Outlet pieces are non-returnable and non-exchangeable.
- Limited quantities. Once they are gone, they are gone.