Cord makes no concessions. The body is raw terracotta — unglazed, unpainted, exactly as it came from the kiln — shaped into a wide, generous bowl and wrapped in horizontal ridges from base to rim. The ridges are not perfectly uniform: they vary slightly in depth and spacing, carrying the evidence of the hands that made them. Above them, a thick twisted jute rope is lashed around the rim through terracotta lugs, bound with finer cord at each point — the only addition to the clay, and the one that changes everything.
The rope is not decoration. It is a structural decision — it defines the rim, references the coil-building tradition the form descends from, and connects the piece to the material world of rope, basket, and vessel that precedes every ceramic tradition. Together, the ridged clay body and the jute crown make Cord the most purely material object in the Midori range. There is nothing here that isn’t necessary.
Place it where raw things belong — a covered verandah, a garden step, a living room corner that has already committed to natural materials. The wide bowl at 38cm holds a generous plant with ease. The Small at 21cm is compact enough for a windowsill but carries the same unhurried authority.
Each Cord is hand-built. The ridges, the lug spacing, and the rope tension vary piece to piece — this is the nature of the object, not a flaw.
L: 38cm dia × 29cm H · M: 29cm dia × 25cm H · S: 21cm dia × 14cm H
Care & Placement
Indoor and covered outdoor only. Raw unglazed terracotta is porous — avoid direct rain and standing water. Clean the clay body with a dry cloth only; do not use water on the surface. The jute rope rim is a natural fibre — keep away from sustained moisture and replace or refresh before each monsoon season. Single base drainage hole. Always use a saucer or tray indoors.
Best Paired With
| Mood | Plants | Light & Water (Always check soil prior to watering) | Setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earthy & Abundant | Areca Palm, Monstera Deliciosa, Peace Lily | Bright–medium indirect · every 5–7 days | Large only · living room floor, covered verandah, hotel lobby |
| Natural & Grounded | Sansevieria, ZZ Plant, Aglaonema (green) | Low–medium indirect · every 10–14 days | All sizes · home office, corridor, covered patio step |
| Herb & Kitchen | Tulsi, Curry Leaf, Lemongrass, Mint | Bright indirect · every 1–2 days | Medium & Small · kitchen windowsill, covered balcony, garden step |
Find Your Pairing
| Plant | Match | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Areca Palm | ✓ Perfect | Large only · feathery fronds against raw clay — the most natural composition in the range |
| Peace Lily | ✓ Perfect | White bloom against warm terracotta — quiet, considered, always works |
| Monstera Deliciosa | ✓ Perfect | Large only · bold dark green against raw orange clay |
| Sansevieria | ✓ Strong | All sizes · structural upright form echoes the vertical ridges |
| ZZ Plant | ✓ Strong | Low-light · glossy dark leaf against matte raw clay |
| Tulsi | ✓ Strong | Medium · sacred, fragrant, deeply at home in raw terracotta |
| Curry Leaf | ✓ Strong | Medium · practical and beautiful · belongs in raw clay |
| Aglaonema (green) | ✓ Strong | All sizes · deep green foliage complements the warm terracotta |
| Spider Plant | ✓ Strong | Small & Medium · trailing green and white effortless against raw clay |
| Boston Fern | △ Possible | Medium · needs humidity · mist regularly · avoid AC vents |
| Pothos | △ Possible | All sizes · keep watering disciplined · avoid moisture on body |
| Flowering plants in pink or red | △ Possible | Warm tones compete with clay body · use deliberately |
| Cactus | ✗ No | Single specimen lost in the wide bowl · form demands generous planting |
Beena’s Curating Tips
Cord is the most honest object in the Midori range — it asks nothing of the plant except to grow well. Choose foliage that is lush, generous, and uncomplicated. This is not a planter for specimen plants; it is a planter for plants that fill space naturally.
The jute rope rim is the detail that carries the piece — it connects Cord to the basket and vessel traditions that predate ceramic glazing by centuries. Style it with other natural materials: raw wood, cane, woven textiles, stone. Cord belongs in rooms that have chosen their materials deliberately.
Tulsi in Cord is Beena’s recommendation for a covered balcony or verandah — sacred, fragrant, and visually grounded in a way that no other plant-planter combination in the Midori range is. Raw terracotta has always been Tulsi’s natural home.
The horizontal ridges cast shadows that shift through the day — in morning sidelight the body looks almost woven, the grooves deep and pronounced. In flat midday light it softens. Position Cord where it receives directional light — a covered patio, a verandah with morning sun — to make the most of this quality.
The jute rope rim needs seasonal attention — refresh or replace it before each monsoon to keep it looking intentional rather than weathered. A fresh rope takes five minutes and returns the piece to its original character completely.
The trio staggered on a wooden surface — teak, mango, sheesham — with varying plants is the most grounded composition in the Argil range. The warm orange clay against warm wood, lush green above, rope detail at the rim: nothing else is needed.
On Cord listing:
Part of the Argil Collection. Also available in Fern — raw terracotta with hand-carved fern frond inlay in teal.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.