The luxury insider celebrates a sophisticated ceramics store

There is a magical, wonderful place in Shanghai called Spin…

There is a magical, wonderful place in Shanghai called Spin (second picture), which sells totally unique ceramics. It’s not easy to find, but once you finally have and step inside, it is difficult to leave, as you’ll find so many beautiful things to look at.

The collections are presented on two floors, and there’s always something new to discover, even if you have been through the store recently. The ceramics are displayed on large wooden tables, which, I believe, were all cut from a single, very large tree that the charming and discreet owner, Jeremy Kuo, had bought as one piece. (He has other talents too; he is the owner of my favourite Japanese restaurant in Shanghai, Shintori [third picture], a wonderful modern space serving fantastic black cod.)

The store is extremely simple, yet totally sophisticated. It has a polished concrete floor and unfinished ceiling, with track lights focused on equally simply, purely designed bowls, celadon vessels and so many teapots and teacups that the choice, if you can only have one, sometimes feels genuinely impossible.

The prices are surprisingly reasonable, and the service is charming – even the ceremonial way they pack the objects you’ve just bought is lovely to watch. They can ship everything anywhere in the world, which is very convenient, considering how heavy china can be. They have relocated the store recently, and created a lovely tea room with an outside deck (during spring or autumn it is very pleasant).

This is one of the most interesting shops in Shanghai and is definitely worth a visit. But beyond all the aesthetic pleasures, I like Spin just as much for the fact that every last thing on display is made in China – in Jindezhen, China’s porcelain capital for almost 1,000 years.

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Yann Debelle de Montby is founder and chairman of Debelle de Montby Associates, a Shanghai-based creative consultancy firm. This blog is published every Thursday.