Hand-painted Arita ware "Musubi" knot of good fortune small gold plate

At a glance

- Arita-yaki (有田焼), Saga Prefecture; by Taseigama (田清窯), producing Arita ware since 1956
- Kichijo Musubi (吉祥結び) in raised relief with gold overglaze: good health and happiness
- 10.5cm wide; suits wagashi, condiments, small objects or gifting

Small plates do a particular kind of work at a table: they signal care. Placing a wagashi or dessert on a plate like this is considered a change in how it is received.

Made by Taseigama (田清窯) in Arita, Saga Prefecture, producing Arita-yaki (有田焼) porcelain since 1956. Arita is Japan's oldest and most widely exported ceramic tradition, developed in the early 17th century. The Musubi (結び) series takes its name from the Japanese art of mizuhiki knotting, where paper cords are tied into specific patterns for gifts and ceremonies. Each knot shape carries a precise meaning, and the lines on each plate are drawn by hand. The Kichijo Musubi (吉祥結び) on this small plate expresses a wish for good health and happiness. It appears in raised relief with gold overglaze on Arita's characteristic bright white porcelain: the relief gives the knot a physical presence that flat decoration cannot, and the gold sits within the raised lines rather than on top of them. At 10.5cm wide, it suits wagashi, condiments, a small arrangement of pickles, or as a tray for placing small objects at the table. Used alongside the larger Musubi plates or the six-plate set, it brings a coherent and quietly festive quality to the table.