Japanese Kohiki Square Plate
Handcrafted in Japan by Hyozangama (兵山窯), this small square plate has a quiet, rustic character shaped by subtle irregularities in form and surface.
The plate is finished using the traditional kohiki (粉引) technique, in which white slip is applied over an iron-rich clay body and covered with a translucent glaze. The softly uneven application allows scattered iron speckles, gentle tonal variations, and warm traces of the darker clay to emerge through the creamy white surface. Along the irregular rim, areas where the slip and glaze thin reveal earthy brown tones, beautifully emphasizing the character of the clay beneath.
A loosely drawn spiral motif at the center adds a simple, expressive gesture, appearing softly through the glazed surface rather than as a sharply defined decoration.
Each plate is individually handcrafted, resulting in slight differences in shape, glaze, markings, and firing. Its gently lifted corners give the small vessel a sculptural quality while making it ideal for serving condiments, pickles, sweets, or small accompaniments.
Dimensions: W 4.13” x L 3.94” x H 0.98”
Handcrafted in Japan by Hyozangama.
Natural variations in form, glaze, iron spotting, and surface are characteristic of kohiki ceramics and make each piece unique.
About Hyozangama: Hyozangama (兵山窯) is a Japanese pottery kiln known for tableware that brings together traditional ceramic techniques and an understated, contemporary sensibility. Its work emphasizes the natural qualities of clay, glaze, and firing, often leaving subtle irregularities and variations visible as part of each vessel’s character.
Many Hyozangama pieces draw from the vocabulary of traditional Japanese ceramics, including surfaces such as kohiki (粉引), where white slip is layered over a darker clay body and finished with glaze. Rather than creating a perfectly uniform surface, these treatments allow iron speckling, variations in tone, glaze pooling, and glimpses of the underlying clay to become part of the decoration.
Forms are typically simple and functional, designed for everyday use while retaining the warmth associated with handcrafted Japanese utsuwa. Slight differences in shape, surface, and firing give each piece an individual presence and allow the character of the material to remain visible.
