apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I love mine, which I bought 10 years ago at a Laoation grocery here in Portland. Sadly, it seems plastic ones are rapidly replacing the enamel ones in all the Asian stores here. I use mine (I own two) as a foot bath, to soak and wash laundry "delicates", and (sorry for the TMI) a "puke pan" to keep by the bed for those horrible bouts of flu (or, I'll admit, once or twice a bad hangover). Of course it gets scrubbed and washed regularly.

The one in the kitchen gets used for all kinds of stuff: besides the ice bucket for bevergages, I fill with ice and a platter over the top and it keeps cold cuts and other cold foods cold for food buffets.

So much more appealing than plastic.

Oh I love these! I am usually not one to accumulate stuff but this I will make room for. Any tips on which store carries them in Chinatown?

Bet Pearl River in NYC has these. They also have a website. I'd be hesitant to put food into them, tho, in light of recent info re use of lead paints, etc.

Susie--

I carried these on 4 flights within China and then the flight home. My mom had a version of them when I was growing up so I wanted to stock up while I was there. There was something special about getting them in china as opposed to somewhere in the states (since I was in china and everything...). Did you happen to see the blue version? I never found those for sale!

No need to travel to Shanghai for these: o.k.versand delivers to your doorstep.

http://www.okversand.com/default.php?cPath=1&sort=product_sort_order&&page=2

lol.. these are normally one of the dowry when you get married in the old days - the chinese wording symbolizes happiness and properity - I used to see these in my grannies place and they still sell these in asia when couples get married.. they use this as a wash basin for washing face or feet.. (seperate bowls of course)

very cool.. i guess can be used as a salad bowl or just leave them as it is? it would look cool if there's mao statues or some propaganda posters around it too.. :)

I am sorry, these arent pretty. I am a true Chinese who was born and raised in Beijing then moved to the States when I was 22. We use these stuff to wash face, hair even feet. The pure white smaller version is to be used to wash veggie and fruits. I am sorry. I just cannot imagine using them to serve a big stir-fry. EWW!!! Please dont!

I'm Chinese too and I find these bowls incredibly tacky.

Hm, I guess I can see how if you're used to washing your feet in these they wouldn't seem very pretty for display or food service! Hee hee. Nevertheless, I like the look of them.

Deepa, I'm not sure exactly where you can find them in Chinatown, but indeed, the link that Martina2009 posted is a place to find them online! That shop is overseas too, however, so you'll have to pay shipping. Maybe try Kamei in the Richmond?

Laure, that's funny that you lugged these around too! I never saw the big blue bowls for sale, but I did find little blue dishes. I didn't like the design quite as much, though, so I passed.

- Susie

LOL, from the reactions it sounds like this is a bit like posting "Look, a vintage bidet! Use it to serve salad!" But honestly there's no harm in reimagining the bowls... I would recommend serving food from them only to your non-Chinese friends though! ;)

I've always thought they were cute (I would say kitschy rather than tacky), and they are very useful indeed for foot and delicate soaking, etc. as Lizzy C posted. You have to do it in something, and these are so much better than plastic.

@Deepa: Stockton Discount Center at Stockton/Vallejo Sts. across from Victoria Pastry/Walgreen. It is a madcap cornucopia of interesting imported tchotchkes. Also a simple wander through Chinatown would turn these up and more, I'm sure.

Haul out your lead testing kit. I have some from Chinese stores here in LA and I don't put food in them.

They're amusing, but hardly indicative of Chinese art, (or what's left of it after the Cultural Revolution and the Red Guards.)

Points about the possible lead content are well-taken. Thanks to those who've pointed that out! There are many uses for these, however, which don't involve putting food in them directly. I love Lizzy C's idea of using them as ice baths for platters that need to stay cold.

@FantasticMrFaux, certainly these are not indicative of Chinese art. But they are widely used in China as household objects, which to my mind makes them an interesting souvenir (as Laure also points out).

- Susie

They are too cute to use.

Please do not serve food with these bowls. We used them to wash face, feet and other parts of the body...