Two years ago, these clay rice bowls were on the bottom of the South China Sea. Today, they’re selling for $15 apiece at Restoration Hardware (935 Broadway, at E. 22nd St.; 212-260-9479). That’s a great price for sunken booty, especially given the bowls’ provenance (handcrafted in China circa 1850), backstory (salvaged from a doomed merchant ship in 2008), one-of-a-kind enamel patinas, and limited numbers — just a thousand in New York. They’re more conversation pieces than functioning food vessels, however: The store can’t vouch for their meal-readiness and recommends cleaning them only with a moist cloth.
The Best Bet [NYM]
