Raspberry Side Plate

The harmony between white porcelain and blue paintings is the beauty of this Mikawachi ware plate. Two raspberry branches painted in flowing, fine lines are superbly composed, and the small round raspberry berries gracefully match the sharpness of the leaves and branches.

The shades of blue display an exquisite gradation, painted carefully by skilled craftspeople using brushes soaked in cobalt pigment, allowing the dye to flow naturally onto the porcelain. The dye "sinks" into the clay creating a gentle and soft shade of blue. The outlines are drawn swiftly with precision and care using soft and fine brushes along the contours of the flowers and leaves. 

This plate has a larger surface of white than a fully painted plate, so it goes well with appetizers and small dishes as it gives a slight accent to the presentation of the dish. The size makes it a perfect item to be placed at individual settings for a traditional Japanese meal. 

Kakusho Kiln

Kakusho Kiln is a historically prestigious kiln that used to serve the lordship of the Hirado Domain in the Edo Period (1600 CE–1868 CE). Kakusho Kiln has passed on the traditional art of sometsuke, blue designs on white porcelain, for more than 300 years.

Their lightweight and elegant porcelain is smooth to the touch, with a soft and gentle shade of blue kind to the eye.

Mikawachi ware, also known as Hirado ware, is a pottery made in Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Known for its translucent white porcelain, it was highly popular in Europe during the trend toward Japanese crafts in the West in the 20th century. Mikawachi ware is remarkable for its delicate modeling techniques that push the limits of porcelain, such as openwork and relief carving, and for its beautiful painting that looks like a single piece of art.