Antique Japanese Late Meijic.1910 Ceramic Hand Painted 4 1/2" Sauce Dish

This is an antique (c.1910) Japanese ceramic sauce dish / kashizara appetizer dish from the late MeijiEra . It has a combination of transfer print and hand painted design of large a scroll containing a garden scene with flowering plum tree. This dish was fired at high temperatures for lasting durability. It came in a set of some 25 similar dishes. They originally came packed in a cryptomeria wood box of 30 (see pictures 9 & 10). On the side of the box there is Japanese writing which says, Small hand painted plate (Moyoiri Kozara) and "Chawan 10 servings x 3) with the name of the original owner:  Sawagashira Toshie.  

Most likely this was a small sauce dish for soy sauce. It could also be used as a kashizara. Kashizara were used as a dish to hold snacks (especially cakes), or small appetizers often used in chado (tea ceremony). It measures 4 1/2" in diameter by 1" tall (11.3 x 2.5 cm). Having been in storage for over a century, it remains in fine condition. A great size for serving something very special.

It came in an original set of 30 similar dishes protected in its original artist signed presentation box (not included) (see pictures 9 & 10). This listing is for one only of the original 30 hand made 1110 year old dishes. The remaining dishes will be seen in upcoming listings or can be made available upon request.