One of Our Favorite Small Kitchen Brands Just Launched an Incredibly Beautiful (and Durable!) Tabletop Collection
It’s no secret that we here at Kitchn are big fans of all things Material. The small, direct-to-consumer brand produces some of our favorite cutting boards, knives, pans, and spatulas. So when we found out that Material was entering a whole new category of products, you can understand why it caused an absolute frenzy among our team. The reason for our excitement? The company just launched their first-ever tabletop collection — and as expected, it’s all way too beautiful for us to handle!
The collection currently includes half plates, full plates, round bowls, and wider open bowls that are sold in sets of two or four. You can choose between a rich grey shade with specks of shimmery deep blue called Grotto, or an earthy Dune color inspired by Material’s iconic Coated Pan. Prices range from $60 to $155, depending on what you’re buying. And what you’re paying for here is top-notch quality. The brand’s co-founder, Eunice Byun, tapped into her Korean American background and worked closely with Seoul-based Hye-Rin Yang of Soil Baker to create pieces that celebrate the rich ceramic history of Yeoju, a Korean city that’s famous for producing ceramics since the Goryeo Kingdom that ruled from 918 to 1392.
And to further add to the special nature of the collection, Yang used clay drawn from a custom blend of five types (!!) of natural Korean soil, which allows the pieces to achieve a versatile and gently grainy shade that subtly changes color depending on the time of day. Each piece is then baked using traditional firing techniques and hand-finished for a unique surface. The end result is truly breathtaking.
Kitchn’s Managing Editor, Lauren Kodiak, got to test a few of the pieces ahead of the launch and was surprised by just how light they felt in her hands. “They are thin and low-profile, with a quiet, delicate beauty and a unique pebbled texture,” she says. “But don’t mistake their airy quality for frailty: They are sturdy enough to go in the dishwasher and microwave.” And as a busy working mom of an equally busy toddler, Lauren was relieved that despite their delicate appearance, the pieces were sturdy enough to add to her regular rotation. “We frankly don’t have the space to store dishes that are pretty to look at but not functional for everyday life,” she says. “Luckily, these new plates from Material manage to marry form and function!”
As with all things Material, we have a feeling this collection will be flying off the shelves too. So if you’re considering treating yourself to a few pieces for your own home or getting a head start on Mother’s Day shopping, we suggest you act fast. Plus, from now until March 31, fifty percent of profits from the collection will be donated to the #HateIsAVirus Community Action Fund, which aims to dismantle racism and hate. So besides the joy of owning beautiful dinnerware that’s worthy of being passed down for generations, you also get to help support an incredibly important and relevant cause.