Kanji Symbols Slate Coasters Set - "Earth, Wind, Fire, Water", Set of 4

by Modern

Product Features

• Handcrafted from all-natural materials
• Kanji symbols for Earth, Wind, Fire & Water
• Backed with cork
• Includes a metal storage tray
• Adds a natural elegance to any home or office

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.8 x 0.5 x 3.8 inches ; 2.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B000BD18UM
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,749 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)

Product Description

Beautifully etched in natural "coppers mine" slate, the kanji symbols for Earth, Wind, Fire and Water are each represented in this 4-piece coaster set. Handcrafed in the USA from all-natural materials, the coaster set features cork paddings and includes a metal tray, which stores the coasters in an upright position. The brown patina of the tray creates a wonderful color combination with the slate coasters when not in use and adds a natural elegance to any home or office.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Flawed Paint Design, May 23, 2006

By 

K. Carlston "Kagome USA" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kanji Symbols Slate Coasters Set - "Earth, Wind, Fire, Water", Set of 4

These are beautiful coasters when they first arrive, and I was quite impressed with them. If you're looking for something a little nicer than those paper or cork coasters that you can find everywhere, this is a good choice. Although made of slate, they have little cork feet on the bottom so that they do not scratch tabletops. The holder is an added bonus.

HOWEVER, not long after receiving these lovely coasters, a serious flaw became apparent. although these coasters remain beautiful, if they get even a little bit wet (like from a drippy cup), the lighter paint between the kanji and the dark slate runs, and eventually washes away. This does detract from the appearance of the coasters! After several months of owning them and using them on a regular basis, all of the lighter paint has washed away, and now the coasters are all one color. They are still attractive, and I still use them not only for myself but for entertaining, but this is a real design flaw, and anyone wh purchases these coasters should be made aware.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars VERY pleased!, November 8, 2008

By 

A. Baxter - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kanji Symbols Slate Coasters Set - "Earth, Wind, Fire, Water", Set of 4

I am very pleased with these. They look just as good in person as they do in the picture, and any chips or scratches will only enhance the natural aesthetic.

The natural styling adds elegance and is much more true to the spirit and aesthetic that they present. They blend into the atmosphere in a very organic way that draws things together rather than competing for attention. Visitors also love them, and "traditional" Asian teaware looks magnificent sitting on them.

I was initially worried about the fact that they don't have a rim and don't absorb liquid, but the size and the natural stone surface easily make up for that; they do their job very well.

One reviewer said that the lighter "paint" comes off, but this is not true. They are not painted, but rather etched stone. The lighter areas are, however, porous stone that will readily absorb any dirt, which will darken this area to approximately that of the rest. This can even happen with just condensation from the outside of a glass; probably from dust/dirt on the glass or the coaster itself. If you look in the right light then you can actually see it on the darker parts of the coaster as well. This is very easily cleaned off by simply rinsing under the tap or dabbing/wiping with a damp cloth. It's really a non-issue; they don't get any dirtier than any other non-absorbent coaster I've used.

The only downside that I have seen so far is that while the coasters themselves have cork feet to prevent scratching the table, the holder is plain metal that would very easily leave scratches. So if you plan to place the holder directly on a scratchable surface then you will need to get some felt or rubber feet. I just glued some rubber matting on the bottom, although I decided that I like the look of the coasters just stacked in the middle of the table with each rotated just slightly.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars love em, March 24, 2009

By 

meckie - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kanji Symbols Slate Coasters Set - "Earth, Wind, Fire, Water", Set of 4

These so fit with my asian slate lamps and my asian/zen decor.....i wish they came in more kanji. No they are not painted, they are carved, that guy who gave the bad review knew nothing. Absolutely lovely. They help create that peaceful feeling i am going for.