Birds and Botanicals Medium Bowl

This bowl is hand-painted by Kutani ware artist Yamada Yoshiaki, whose works draw inspiration from nature and the changing seasons. Building upon the traditional Kutani five-color palette, he has developed his own approach to color, complemented by detailed brushwork. Available in 5 designs, each depicts a bird perched among branches, accompanied by blossoms, leaves, or ripening fruit.

This medium-sized bowl is well suited for simmered dishes, side dishes, and light salads. Its wide, open form provides ample space for arranging food, while the hand-painted motifs along the inner sides frame each serving. Suitable for everyday use or as a gift, the bowl can also be paired with other works by Yamada Yoshiaki for a coordinated table setting.

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.