A superb example of the Uma-no-me (Horse-eye) style platters of the Edo to Meiji period with five eyes surrounding a ring of spur marks centering on a dashed spray of grass. Ordinarily associated with the Seto region, this is a rare example of the Mashiko region. It is 32.5 cm (13 inches) diameter and in rare perfect condition, dating from the later Meiji period.
During the late Edo to Meiji period these plates were mass-produced as utilitarian wares in Seto City, Aichi Prefecture. Later, they gained popularity when they were introduced by Yanagi Sōetsu, the founder of the Mingei (Folk Crafts) movement which espoused objects made with simplicity and a focus on function, stripped of unnecessary elements. Their rustic charm came to be appreciated as the "beauty of utility" (yō no bi). The hand-painted designs ensured that each one had unique characteristics.
