Vintage Japanese Dish with Makers Mark

20th Century/Japan

Japanese ceramic kilns across regions like Arita and Hasami produced delicate tableware for everyday dining and export markets. Artisans shaped these porcelain wares on wheels before applying cobalt blue underglaze pigments by hand and firing them at high temperatures. The tradition combined centuries-old techniques with modern production methods to create durable, functional pieces featuring traditional motifs and maker signatures.

Families and restaurants used these small plates, known as kozara, for serving individual portions of soy sauce, pickles, or appetizers during meals. They were kept in kitchen cupboards and set out daily on dining tables across Japan and abroad. Over time, mass production shifted away from hand-painted kiln marks, making these vintage marked pieces collectible reminders of mid-century craft.