Tachikichi Rabbit-Shaped Plates, Single — White Crackle Glaze, Pink Ears

This small plate is by Tachikichi (たち吉), the Kyoto ceramics house founded in 1752. Tachikichi designs its own tableware and commissions it from kilns across Japan, and it is known for refined everyday pieces with a seasonal, decorative sensibility. The plate carries the impressed 橘吉 seal on the base.

The plate is moulded in the shape of a crouching rabbit (usagi). The rim follows the outline of the head, the long ear laid along the back, and the rounded haunch and paws. A single red dot marks the eye, and a soft brushstroke of pink fills the ear, a minimal touch of colour against the white. In Japan the rabbit is closely tied to the moon: folklore sees a rabbit pounding mochi on the lunar surface, and rabbit motifs are especially popular in autumn around tsukimi (moon viewing). They are also used year-round for wagashi (sweets) and small dishes.

The glaze is a soft matte white with a wide, irregular crackle (kan'nyū). These lines darken gently with use, which many collectors value as part of a piece's character. The underside is unglazed, showing a buff clay body with warm orange kiln flashing.

Details:

• Maker: Tachikichi (たち吉), Kyoto; impressed 橘吉 seal on base
• Form: Moulded rabbit-shaped plate
• Glaze: Matte white with wide crackle; pink ear and red eye accents
• Base: Unglazed buff clay with orange kiln flashing
• Use: Wagashi, small dishes, accessories, or display
• Condition: Good secondhand condition. Crackle lines have slightly darkened with age and use, as is typical of this glaze. As each piece is individually glazed, crackle pattern and colour vary slightly
• Price is per plate. Several available, so message me if you would like more than one
• Dimensions: (L) 12 cm x (W) 7.8 cm