Square plate c. 1950

This square plate was made by Hamada Shōji. He was a Japanese potter, and this piece shows his playful approach to form and function. The checkerboard pattern is so simple, but the glazes—those earthy browns and creams—they're where the magic happens. I love how the glaze isn't perfect, it pools and drips, revealing the hand of the artist. You can almost feel the heat of the kiln, see the way the colors have melded and transformed. It’s like a tiny landscape, each square a different field or plot of land. Look closely at the top left corner, where the dark glaze seems to bleed into the lighter area. It's a small detail, but it speaks volumes about the unpredictability and beauty of the ceramic process. It reminds me a little of some of Bernard Leach's work, that same respect for materials, that same desire to find beauty in the everyday. With this piece, Hamada reminds us that art is as much about the journey as it is the destination.