March 12, 2008

It’s Porcelain, Doll

Far4 Opens

Time for the Wednesday morning dish.

No, literally.

We’re smitten with the porcelain dishes at Far4, a just-opened downtown boutique that transcends pesky distinctions between tableware and fine art.

Its story began a few years back when Russian-born Seattleites Igor and Yelena Klimenkoff adopted 18th-century methods to craft plates, cups, saucers, and figurines with a contemporary twist. After raves from Elle Decor and Vogue Russia, they concluded it was time to give their exquisite work a home.

The Klimenkoffs’ gilded plates and whimsical sculptures (colorless fruit, porcelain peonies, life-size human heads) play nicely with other European lines (Gaia & Gino’s modular tableware, Lobmeyr’s butterfly-studded crystal). Stripped oak floors, exposed brick, and eggplant walls add an element of toughness that complements the delicate wares.

There’s also a healthy selection of Theo chocolates and Kimberly Baker jewelry to mix things up.

Blurring yet another distinction: fashion and plate.

Far4, 1020 First Avenue, between Madison and Spring Streets (206-621-8831).