Height 10.7cm, Diameter 17.1-18.3cm, Base Diameter 8.3cm
This is a masterpiece of the Unkinte style that Nami Michihachi was particularly fond of. Michihachi incorporated the Kenzan style into his works to a great extent, but the Unkinte style, which features a unique design with cherry blossoms and maple leaves facing each other, is highly regarded as a representative style of Nami Michihachi. There are very few pieces as outstanding as this bowl.
I have never seen a Kenzan-yaki bowl with a cherry blossom and maple leaf design, but perhaps the original design has been preserved. The way the rim of the bowl is cut into a fine pattern according to the design is a technique that Kenzan liked to use, and this bowl also has a rim that is cut into a different pattern according to the cherry blossom and maple leaf design. The trunks and branches of the cherry blossoms and maple leaves are drawn in iron-red, and the flowers, autumn leaves and blue leaves are painted in a slightly darker overglaze enamels, and gold is added to the trunks to further enhance the decorative effect. Inside the foot ring, the same as Kenzan’s works, the characters “Michihachi” are written in iron pigment on a white slip within a rectangular frame, and a transparent glaze is applied on top, but part of it is left exposed. It comes with a matching box, and on the lid is written “Unkin, Hachi, Michihachi” and the “Niami” seal is impressed.
