Blue Bamboo Leaves Sauce Plate

This sauce plate is made by Le Sanpei Kiln. The brush-painted bamboo motif features a fine culm and trailing leaves. The painting evokes the feeling of gazing at a distant landscape. 

For early Imari, the underglaze blue painted patterns are simple, often painted freely with blue paint called  gosu. When fired, the base color of the ware becomes slightly tinted and has a semi-glossy appearance.

It is a perfect size for serving sauce or snacks like nuts and candies.

Also, you can put a small portion of food or relishes in, place it on a larger plate or into a bento box for more stylish and sophisticated food presentation.

Le Sanpei Kiln

In the early seventeenth century, Korean craftsman Yi Sam-pyeong, known as Le Sanpei (also spelled Ri Sanpei) in Japanese, discovered pottery stone in Izumiyama, Arita. This led to the creation of the oldest porcelain in Japan, known today as Arita ware. He also founded Le Sanpei Kiln, which operated for four generations before closing, though his name and legacy endured.

In 1920, Le’s thirteenth-generation descendant revived the kiln, which has been in operation ever since. Now led by the fourteenth generation kiln master, Le Sanpei’s exceptional porcelain craftsmanship lives on today.

Crafted in the historic town of Arita, located in Saga Prefecture, Arita ware stands as the most venerable porcelain production hub in the annals of Japanese history. Characterized by its ethereal translucent white surface adorned with vibrant paintings, it has profoundly influenced the porcelain craft across Europe.

Within Japan, Arita ware is held in high esteem as a prestigious brand, with the town of Arita acknowledged as a quintessential production area.