A Pair of Inban Ware Small Plates: Rustic Stenciling

late 19th century
each, diameter: 4 1/2", 11.5 cm
each, height: 3/4", 2 cm

Inban ware is a type of every day ceramic from old Japan that uses hand cut stencils to guide its design on to its surface: the stencils used for this purpose are very similar to those used in the katazome dyeing process, which makes Inban ware an interesting counterpart to folk textiles.

Inban ware was only produced for a narrow window of time, roughly from around 1878 to 1898 and often it is the flaws in the making of the Inban ware that give it its charm.

These two small plates are typical of Inban ware as they show the flaws typical of this mass-produced type of porcelain. The stenciled design shows what seem to be Heian period courtiers each depicted in a blank, white space which is surrounded by elaborate, small details.

Lovely.