Japanese Round Plate - JS Ko-Imari Floral Pattern 190mm

A 19cm diameter Japanese plate with a slightly raised rim, featuring auspicious patterns symbolizing wealth. This plate is a convenient size, suitable as a slightly larger side plate or a main plate for individual use. The shape has been traditionally passed down at the Yazemon Kiln. The base material is formed using a molding method called "pressure casting," where a special plaster mold with convex and concave parts is stacked, and slip (clay slurry) is poured under pressure. Once the slip inside the mold hardens due to the absorbency of the plaster, the molded piece is removed from the mold. This method is particularly suitable for shaping irregularly designed pieces. Afterward, the piece is dried and trimmed to refine its shape. In porcelain-making, the final trimming process is crucial for shaping and requires skilled craftsmanship. The finished base is then bisque-fired at 920°C over two days, and a unique glaze is applied individually with a brush before reduction firing at 1,300°C over three days. After that, overglaze decoration is applied and fired at 800°C to complete the process. The traditional Ko-Imari floral patterns are expressed in black and platinum. The design features bats as a motif, which have been considered auspicious symbols of wealth since ancient times due to the homophone of "fuku" (fortune) and "fuku" (bat). This makes it a pattern symbolizing wealth. The auspicious pattern is preserved as is, but the colors have been changed to black and platinum to create a modern expression. Auspicious patterns have been widely used in Arita porcelain by past potters, reflecting their desire to enrich the lives of users both materially and spiritually. We hope to convey this sentiment to people worldwide through these pieces.