Bird and Botanicals Rectangular Dinner Plate

This rectangular dinner plate is hand-painted by Kutani ware artist Yamada Yoshiaki, who observes the changing seasons through birds and plants rendered in meticulous detail. Drawing from the traditional Kutani five-color palette, he has developed his own fresh color expressions, brought to life through precise brushwork and careful attention to even the smallest elements.

Each plate captures a lively scene of birds perched along tree branches, surrounded by delicate leaves, blossoms, or ripening fruit, all rendered in graceful detail. An earthy brown rim adds definition, beautifully framing each design.

Sized perfectly for serving everything from grilled fish and sashimi to meat dishes and seasonal vegetables, these plates offer a satisfying weight while still stacking neatly for convenient storage. Whether used for entertaining guests or recreating a restaurant-style presentation at home, they bring a distinct flair to the table. 

Yamada Yoshiaki

Yamada Yoshiaki is regarded as one of the leading contemporary masters of the ko-Kutani painting style, celebrated for works that capture the quiet beauty of nature. 

Over the course of more than fifty years, Yamada has developed a distinctive style rooted in gosai, the traditional five-color palette of Kutani ware, while expanding it through his own fresh and refined sense of color. His works are admired for their meticulously detailed painting, elegant compositions, and masterful use of negative space, often featuring delicate botanical imagery and birdlife rendered on white porcelain. 

Kutani ware is a traditional Japanese porcelain from the Kaga region in Ishikawa Prefecture, with a history spanning over 350 years. Known for its vibrant overglaze enamel designs and use of five signature colors, known as Kutani gosai—navy blue, red, purple, green, and yellow pigments. This timeless craft has continuously evolved through generations of artisans who balance innovation with a deep respect for tradition. 

Kutani ware exhibits a diverse range of distinctive styles, shaped by evolving artistic tastes over the centuries. Styles such as ko-Kutani, with its bold colors, geometric patterns, and painterly detail, and akae-saibyo, marked by ultra-fine red lines. Many pieces feature traditional Japanese motifs, such as kacho (flowers and birds) and sansui (landscapes), offering a timeless glimpse into the beauty of nature and the seasons.