This adorable timer is made by Alessi.  I received a birthday package from my sister who now lives in boston, MA. The best part of the package was how nicely all the individual items were wrapped once the box was opened- real satin, turquoise ribbon tied around green tissue paper.  What a visual treat!  My three year old neice, Kaia drew a beautiful card for me too.  Had i received this timer from a non-asian friend, i might have found it slightly racist, but the Mr. Chin kitchen timer is so adorable, how could one ever get mad?  It’s part of the “OrienTales” collection by Stefano Giovannoni with Rumiko Takeda.  it comes in 4 colors, pink and red, pink and gold, blue, and yellow and gold.  

Besides, it takes much more than a designer ‘chinaman’ to offend me.  of course ‘the chinaman is not the issue‘.