Set out squares of chocolate after dinner, pass smoked salmon on rye at a party, or park rings and small change on a dresser overnight. The iittala Taika Blue Rectangle Plate is made of vitro porcelain, and its illustration is printed inside a raised white border that frames the scene and leaves the rim and underside plain white.

Taika is Finnish for magic, and Klaus Haapaniemi's 2007 illustration earns the name: a long-necked red fox standing among slim trees hung with berries and blossom, two owls keeping watch from the branches, everything set against deep midnight blue. It's a design that gives up its details slowly — you find something new around the tenth time you set it down.

Haapaniemi is a Finnish designer whose work draws on folklore and old decorative art, and the shallow rectangular shape here is plain enough to let the illustration do the talking. At 9.5 by 4.75 inches it suits a coffee table, a nightstand, or a small buffet, and it handles the freezer, microwave, oven and dishwasher. It makes a good Finnish design gift for someone who likes an everyday object with a story.

• Brand: iittala
• Pattern: Taika (Magic)
• Designer: Klaus Haapaniemi
• Country: Designed in Finland, Made in Thailand
• Material: Vitro Porcelain
• Measurements: 9.5" Length x 4.75" Width (12 x 24 cm)
• Color: Blue
• Care: Freezer, microwave, oven, and dishwasher safe