Early to mid 19th century 13.5 x 2.5" horse eye plate umanome zara. Large sized plate of typical form, heavily potted and decorated with iron brown underglaze, with an underglazed foot rim. Excellent condition with no inner rim chips. Several outer rim chips and single kiln flaw and short hairline; standard for this type of well used pottery. Of the several types of 'eye' found on horse eye plates, this design is of the type where the eye fades as it travels away from the center (most plates have a solid color throughout). This design required a greater degree of skill than the typical single body color eye. These plates were widely used on the Tokkaido Highway between Kyoto and Tokyo in the late Edo and Meiji eras. Many examples of this type of stoneware appear in mingei museum collections. Horse eye plates are becoming increasingly rare to find in good condition.
Arita Imari dish dating to the early 19th century measuring 9" x 9" x 1 1/2". The highly desirable shape combines with a colorful image of an outdoor scene. Two wildfowl and butterflies occupy space in a garden surrounded by chrysanthemums and foliage in a rich array of hues. The reverse is decorated with hand painted shapes and the lip is painted on both sides. The plate is in good condition with the gold intact and no repairs or restoration. An excellent addition to a serious imari collection.
Rare imari fish-shaped plate dating to the end of the Edo period and measuring 9 1/4" x 5 1/4". Vivid blue and red coloration with central region depicting a floral pattern. Unusually loose brushwork combines with a typical imari palette with high attention to detail. Reverse is decorated with hand-painted bamboo leaves. These dishes were tyically used for sashemi or condiments at a formal table setting. Excellent condition with no repairs or restoration.
