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.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). Although these plates were mass-produced, the hand-painted designs ensured that each one had unique characteristics. Excavated examples suggest they were produced primarily in the Seto and Hō districts from around the Bunka era (circa 1810). The value of these plates is affected by the number of "eyes" (decorative spirals). Rare configurations are exceptionally priced, and plates with an odd number of eyes are particularly scarce and considered highly valuable.
