A lidded tureen from Bordallo Pinheiro, shaped like a plump pumpkin with natural ridges and a curling stem for a handle. It's made from glazed earthenware in Portugal, and the glaze catches the light differently across the ridges, so no two pieces look quite the same.

Big enough for a proper batch of soup or stew, with a 4.25 litre capacity, it earns its place at an autumn table without much fuss. Once the season moves on, it sits just as well on a sideboard as a piece in its own right, lid and all.