This attractive stone bowl, gleaming with flecks of mica, caught my eye on Kappabashi, the famed "kitchen supply street" in Tokyo. Cost me 2100 yen. Measures 5 1/2 inches across and 2 1/2 inches deep. The surface is just a bit rough - great for building lather. Weighing in at 3 lbs, it just sits there and doesn't need to be steadied as I twirl the brush. Best of all, after soaking in hot water, it retains heat while I do my three canonical passes. Is this the ultimate shaving bowl? Well, the search continues, but this one is a strong candidate...