One of the nicest things about using this plate as a serving platter is once the food is all gone, you see a beautiful swirl accent design against the elegant black background.  If you’re interested in provenance, this plate is Mashiko-ware made in the Tochigi prefecture of Japan. Mashiko-yaki (or Mashiko ware) was first produced at the end of the Edo period as simple utilitarian pottery, but gained popularity in the 1920s as part of the folkcraft movement. Here’s your chance to own both a piece of art, but also a serviceable yet beautiful platter.