2x5x5 In(Each).

Sometsuke (blue-and-white porcelain) is a centuries-old decorative technique that originated in China and later spread throughout Asia and Europe. First modeled on Chinese Jingdezhen wares of the late Yuan and Ming dynasties, the style travelled to Korea before taking root in Japan. Artisans used a cobalt-based pigment to paint directly onto a bisque-fired, unglazed porcelain surface, before applying a clear glaze and firing at high temperatures. The cobalt melded with the glaze during firing, creating the brilliant blue set against the porcelain’s pure white ground that characterizes the style. 

The present set of four bowls comes from Mino, in Gifu Prefecture, a celebrated center of Japanese ceramics since the late 16th century. Each bowl is painted in cobalt blue with alternating reserves of stylised plum blossoms (ume) and cherry blossoms (sakura). The plum, blooming in the harshness of late winter, represents perseverance and renewal, while the cherry blossom embodies the fleeting beauty of spring. 

Embraced by latticework bands at the rim grounds the composition with a sense of balance and rhythm. The underside of each bowl bears a backstamp reading “Minoyaki no” (of Mino ware), affirming their regional identity and linking them to a centuries-old ceramic tradition that continues to the present day.

Non-exportable

Provenance: The Estate of Mangaldas Nathubhai