*THIS ITEM WEIGHS 2495 GRAMS WITHOUT PACKAGING, PLEASE SCROLL TO THE END OF THIS LISTING FOR SHIPPING DETAILS AND UPGRADES.

This listing is for a rather large, antique Seto-ware Umanome plate made around 130-150 years ago. It is heavy and rugged in appearance, and features hand-painted ‘horse eye’ spirals. These spirals were painted using iron oxide and decorate the edges of the plate. This is a large and durable plate and an excellent collector’s item. Please note that Umanome pieces were never signed as they were mass produced utilitarian wares, but they are now quite valuable because of the mingei folk art movement. 

Umanome refers to a traditional type of motif used to decorate mass-produced utilitarian wares during the Edo period. This particular type of pattern was widely used from the late Edo period to the early Meiji Period. The pattern consists of hand-painted concentric spirals applied with iron oxide, which represent horse eyes. Japanese inns along the old Tokaido road favoured Umanome wares because they were inexpensive and could be purchased in bulk. Umanome pieces had a surge of popularity after the Mingei movement kicked off in the early 1900s.

Seto-ware, was originally used to describe ceramics that were produced in and around the village of Seto, in Aichi Prefecture. The soil around the city contains good quality porcelain clay as well as silica for making glass. Among the major kiln groups established by the Kamakura period only those at Seto developed the deliberately applied glaze instead of the old natural ash glaze. The rich Seto glaze was perfected during the fifteenth century, and later adopted by potters of Mino Province. Seto is currently the largest producer of ceramic novelties, such as animal and bird okimono, dolls, ashtrays, and vases.                                                                                                                               

Size

H.6cm (2.3”) x Dia.35cm (13.7”)                                                                                              

Condition

It’s in pretty good condition for its age, however it has a few issues.  On the bottom there are chips all around the edge, as well as two hairline and lots of discolouration.  On the front there are five hairline cracks, discolouration and numerous chips along the edge.  It’s a little larger than most umanome, and a great example of a bygone era.          

THESE ARE SHIPPING ESTIMATES BASED ON THE CURRENT GLOBAL SITUATION                                                                 

**Germany, France, Greece, Spain, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Slovenia:  NO SHIPPING.  The aforementioned countries have very strict and expensive packaging laws in place and we are not licensed to send products to your country.  We have no plan to register at this time because the process is in some cases very expensive and complicated, plus each country has its own set of regulations and application process. 

**USA:  SAL Sea Mail (approx. 11-12 weeks), an upgrade for EMS Express (7-10 days) available for an additional 8000 yen. 

**UK , Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe:  SAL Sea Mail (approx. 8-12 weeks depending on the destination), an upgrade for EMS Express (7-10 days) available for an additional 6600 yen. 

**Asia:  SAL Sea Mail (approx. 6-8 weeks), an upgrade for EMS Express (5-7 days) available for an additional 3350 yen. 

**Middle East, Central Asia, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico:  EMS Express only (7-15 days).

**Russia:  No shipping methods available.