Imari Horse Dish

Imari Horse Dish — a spirited fusion of Japanese folklore and painterly ceramic tradition. This petite square dish depicts a white horse in mid-stride, painted in dark enamel against a subtle crackled celadon ground. The horse — a symbol of nobility, speed, and divine strength in Japanese culture — is flanked by stylized brush inscriptions and a red seal mark.

Produced in Arita, the birthplace of Imari ware, this piece reflects a postwar revival of hand-decorated ceramics aimed at export markets and local collectors alike. The use of “craquelure” — intentional glaze cracking — adds visual depth and vintage appeal, often seen in older Imari pieces meant to evoke age and texture
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This is a striking collector’s object that combines symbolism, tradition, and tactile artistry in a compact form.