Cover The teaware selection at Huls Gallery, Duxton Hill

The boutique's artisanal collections of exquisitely crafted plates, cups and teapots elevate the dining and tea-drinking experience, whether in a restaurant or at home

In the three years since it has opened its doors in Singapore, Huls Gallery has become synonymous with Japanese arts and craftsmanship. The craft gallery has, from day one, set out to bring the unique Japanese culture to our shores with a curated selection of artisanal drinkware, tableware and cookware, spanning from ceramics and lacquerware to textile, wood and bamboo crafts.

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Above Porcelain Houhin Teapot and tea cups from Arita, Saga Prefecture. White Sycamore tray from Tokushima Prefecture.

THE ART OF TEA

Just like the world of crafts, the art of preparing and drinking tea is very profound. Besides appreciating the tea, the types of pots and cups used in making it is yet another art form in itself. This is one of the reasons why Japanese teaware is one of the most popular categories among the gallery’s beautifully made yet functional objects.

Those who have an interest in contemporary teaware will find exceptional choices here that have a seemingly modern aesthetic, yet are rooted in Japanese tradition and history. A fine example can be seen in the handle-less Houhin teapot, which is designed to be comfortably held in the palm.

The reason behind this is that the Houhin teapot is made for drinking gyokuro tea, which should be brewed and served at a lower temperature—as compared to Western or Chinese tea—of between 50 to 70 degrees Celsius. The teapot is crafted in Arita by Riso Porcelain, an innovative manufacturer that employs digital technology together with the traditional Ko-Imari porcelain production method.

For the Japanese tea lover, Huls Gallery is a land of adventure to explore, as there are many other exquisitely made tea ware creations in the boutique waiting to be discovered, acquired and enjoyed for many years to come in the home.

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Above Customised for Ichigo Ichie, an artisanal ceramic bowl with metal-like glaze, from Saga Prefecture

SERVING UP STYLE

Another interesting aspect of Huls Gallery’s operations is that it also works with fine-dining restaurants and their chefs to customise artisanal tableware specifically designed to suit their unique cuisine. These exclusive pieces add yet another creative element to the food they carry, and serve to enhance the customer’s dining experience.

You would likely have dined at some of these fine restaurants in Singapore and eaten from plates and with cutlery that were from Huls Gallery.  

They include names like Sushi Kimura, Terra Tokyo Italian, Zen, Euphoria, Labyrinth and Ichigo Ichie at Intercontinental Singapore Robertson Quay.

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Above Seashore plate. Collaboration piece with Terra Tokyo Italian.
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Above Karatsu plate at Ichigo Ichie

In addition, the craft gallery also stocks the minimalistic and elegant Frame series of tableware that is created for professional use. The refined simplicity of this line of plates and bowls allows chefs to express their creativity, while the material is three times stronger than normal porcelain. For these reasons, the Frame series can be frequently seen in fine-dining restaurants and hotels.

The next time you’re at a fine-dining restaurant, pay some attention to how your food is being served. You might just be able to identify fine Japanese tableware that is sourced via Huls Gallery.

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