HM BOWL / Shiraai (Blue Gray) [Outlet]

1. 20% off the regular price - limited quantity
2. The wooden base is standard grade, exactly the same as a regular piece
3. Only the porcelain bowl is affected - no issue for everyday use
4. 14 cm high so cats drink in a natural posture, with a generous 500 ml
5. The bowl lifts out for washing. Microwave and dishwasher safe

A few marks. Still entirely good
for everyday use.

Every &CAT bowl is Mino ware, handmade in Japan. Because each one is finished by hand, no two are identical - the depth of the glaze and the way the piece comes out of the kiln vary slightly from bowl to bowl. That is part of the character of the ware, and we set an inspection standard so that pieces within that range ship as regular stock. Outlet pieces are the ones that fall just outside it: glaze lifted at the rim, black specks, a difference in sheen, a small mark on the underside. A little too pronounced to call character, and normally not something we would sell. But the difference is cosmetic only - strength, hygiene and the way the bowl works in daily use are exactly the same as a regular piece. Rather than let them go to waste, we are offering these few pieces as outlet stock at a special price, for a limited run. A good chance to bring one home for less.

The wooden base is exactly the same as a standard piece.

Only the porcelain bowl is affected. The base is solid Japanese walnut from Akita Prefecture, hand-finished by craftspeople in Hida Takayama, selected to exactly the same standard as our regular stock. The warmth of the wood that gives the HM BOWL its presence is unchanged, and so is the way it looks in your space.

What "outlet" means here, in practice.

The reason differs from piece to piece. Some bowls have just one of the following; some have several. Here are the four most common examples.

1. Glaze lifted at the rim, or small irregularities

Some pieces have a spot at the rim where the glaze has lifted slightly, or a small unevenness in the surface. This is the part your cat's mouth touches, but there are no sharp chips, so it is no problem in use.

2. Black specks

Minerals in the clay and glaze can surface as small black specks during firing. It is a natural characteristic of Mino ware and appears on regular pieces too, but on outlet pieces there may be more of them, or they may sit somewhere more visible. They are not dirt, and they are safe for your cat to drink around.

3. Pieces that came out glossy

Shiraai (blue gray) is meant to finish with a soft matte surface. Depending on conditions in the kiln, some pieces come out with a sheen to them instead. Because the texture differs from the intended finish, these go to the outlet - but the color itself is unchanged, and so is the way it works in use.

4. Marks on the underside

Some pieces have small marks on the base of the bowl, left during production. They sit where you cannot see them once the bowl is set down, and there is no issue with leaking or strength.

About HM BOWL

The 14 cm height keeps your cat's head and neck in a natural position while drinking. The bowl is wide and shallow - 14.5 cm across, 4.5 cm deep - so whiskers stay clear of the sides, and it holds around 500 ml, enough to leave out while you are away. It also takes about 200 g of dry food, so it works as a food bowl too. For the full details, see the regular product page.
→ Go to the HM BOWL product page

Please read before ordering

- Only the porcelain bowl is affected. The wooden base is standard grade, the same as a regular piece.
- The reason and condition differ from piece to piece: a bowl may have one of the above, or several. Pieces cannot be chosen or specified.
- The images above are examples of the condition. You will receive a piece with a comparable level of imperfection.
- There are no issues with strength, hygiene or leaking.
- Because these are outlet pieces, they cannot be returned or exchanged.
- Limited quantity - available while stock lasts.