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Japanese jeweler offers million-dollar tableware

Newly rich Chinese are market for 13-piece set made of pure gold

Image: Chinese tableware made of pure gold
A model from Japan's jeweler Ginza Tanaka displays a set of Chinese tableware made of pure gold. The company said the tableware was aimed to appeal to Chinese customers. China's increasing ranks of newly rich are buoying the luxury market despite the global economic slowdown.
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updated 11:28 a.m. ET Sept. 3, 2008

Talk about a golden meal.

A Japanese jeweler is selling a 13-piece tableware set made entirely of pure gold for $1 million.

The set by Ginza Tanaka includes goblets, plates, chopsticks and cutlery, each engraved with a dragon, which symbolizes eternal youth and health.

The items are available as single purchases, with spoons priced at 650,000 yen each and soup bowls going for 32 million yen.

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It is also an ancient Chinese tradition that those who eat from gold tableware will have eternal youth and life.

The company said the tableware was aimed to appeal to Chinese customers. China's increasing ranks of newly rich are buoying the luxury market despite the global economic slowdown.

“Recently, there have been a lot of Chinese customers. When they visit our store, we try to appeal to them by showing we can also design Chinese-style tableware,” said Naoto Mizuki, general manager of the store's marketing department.

“I'm sure that this would be a nice gift for older people so that their whole family can enjoy dinner together.”

The company also hopes that the set will be used as gifts for the elderly to mark Respect-for-the-Aged Day on Sept. 15, a spokesman said.

Ginza Tanaka has offered in the past a range of goods made from gold, ranging from a gold bathtub to a gold bathing suit.

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© 2009 MSNBC Interactive

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