Every object here has already lived one life before it reached you.
Let’s make sure they stay with you for a lifetime.
Vintage and antique pieces are not new goods, and they do not all want to be looked after the same way. A porous chawan needs something different from a lacquered box, and a hand-painted kokeshi needs something different again. Get the basics right and each piece will only get more beautiful with use.
Below are the guides for the materials you will most often find in my shop. If you are ever unsure about a specific piece, just ask, hello@kaikoandco.com.
01. Ceramics: chawan, yunomi and vases
Porous, glazed, fired at different temperatures and never quite the same twice. Chawan and yunomi transform with use, and vases need a slightly different kind of attention since they hold standing water rather than tea.
02. Kokeshi
Hand-painted wood asks for a completely different approach than ceramics. The one rule that matters most: never water. Everything else follows from there.
03. Urushi lacquerware
Urushi lacquer is remarkably hard once cured, but light and dry air are its real enemies. A few simple habits keep the surface and the decoration intact for decades more.
Items from our collection
Questions before you buy?
Since my items are one-of-a-kind pieces, I want to ensure they reach you perfectly.
Questions about the history or condition?
Need a custom shipping quote or shipping outside the EU?
Prefer to see more detailed photos or a video?
Reach out to me directly. I'm here to help you find the perfect piece for your home.
✉️ hello@kaikoandco.com
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