Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Very attractive coaster set. Gave as a gift and they loved it. It works well for catching the water instead of the water runing off and onto the table. Very pleased, will probably buy some for myself.

Well, I'll be the first to review these: The coasters are beautiful stone coasters, exactly like it says in the description. These aren't cheap little cork coasters. They are well worth the money.

I bought these last year as a Christmas gift for a friend who is an Asian culture enthusiates. These coasters are really beautiful and provide an art in additional to full functionality. They are very sturdy and I like the stand that comes with it. I did think that the price was a little steep for only being 4 coasters. It's decieving to see 8 coasters in the picture, which I think would have made the steep price not so bad.

It was worth it for me to get them anyway for my friend.

These coasters are heavy and every bit worth the price. It is a set of four, and they look and feel great. They do not hold water, I know some seem to, but these will roll the water on to the table. They hold glasses safely and I have not had any problems with anything slipping or sliding. Overall a good purchase.

We love this coasters! It sits on our living room coffee table and used all the time.

Received the item in a reasonable time frame, however, the coasters are much more 'rugged' in appearance than when viewed online. The holder will definately scratch a wooden surface as well, so keep that in mind before buying.

These are not only practical coasters, but are pieces of art as well. Only drawback, they are heavy. If you have a young child around, be careful with glass tables!