Vintage item, never used. This handcrafted Shigaraki ware (信楽焼) square plate, or kakuzara (角皿), exemplifies the quiet elegance of traditional Japanese ceramics. The piece features a distinctive Kannyū Shino glaze (貫入志野釉), characterized by a soft white surface interlaced with a fine crackle pattern known as kannyū (貫入) — an intentional network of cracks formed as the glaze cools and contracts over the clay body.
The form of the plate is slightly irregular and organic, its hand-built edges and natural warping revealing the artist’s touch. A small, darker glazed accent provides visual contrast, enhancing the sense of balance and asymmetry prized in Japanese aesthetics.
Shigaraki ware is one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns (日本六古窯, Nihon Rokkoyō), with a history dating back over 1,200 years. Originating in the Shigaraki region of Shiga Prefecture, it is renowned for its rustic textures, natural ash glazes, and warm, earthy tones. The coarse local clay, rich in feldspar and quartz, gives Shigaraki pottery its distinctive speckled surface and organic feel.
Traditionally used for tea ceremony wares, water jars, and everyday vessels, Shigaraki ware reflects the principles of wabi-sabi — beauty in imperfection and transience. Each piece bears the unique mark of its firing, often showing subtle variations caused by the interaction of flame, ash, and glaze in the kiln.
Size: 24 x 24 x 4cm (Plate)
27 x 27 x 7cm (Box)
