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Up for sale is a beautiful, highly collectible vintage Arita ware (Arita-yaki) porcelain zodiac plaque representing the Year of the Ram/Sheep (未 - Hitsuji). This specific piece is a sacred devotional token issued by the famous Tozan Shrine (陶山神社) located in Arita, Saga Prefecture—the historic heart of Japanese porcelain.
Width: ~4.7 inches (approx. 12 cm)
Height: ~3.1 inches (approx. 8 cm)
Thickness: ~0.25 inches (approx. 0.6 cm)
Front Design: Features a charmingly styled, colorful hand-painted illustration of a sheep/ram adorned with vibrant patterns. To the right, it displays the large kanji character 「未」 (Ram) accompanied by the poetic auspicious phrase 「未は陽気」, translating to "The Ram brings cheerfulness and vitality."
Blessing Stamp: The red cartouche in the upper right reads 「招福」 (Shōfuku), which translates to "Inviting Good Fortune."
Shrine Authentication: The bottom left corner bears the distinct red stamp of 「有田焼 陶山神社」 (Arita Ware - Tozan Shrine).
Artisan Maker's Mark: The back features a clear, stamped maker's mark reading 「宗右衛門」 (Sōemon), denoting its origin from the reputable Sōemon Kiln (Sōemon-gama).
Cultural Context:In Shinto tradition, Ema are votive plaques usually made of wood, but the iconic Tozan Shrine is famous across Japan for replacing structures and shrine objects with stunning, locally-crafted Arita porcelain. These porcelain plaques are exceptionally unique regional collectibles, traditionally displayed to invite luck, health, and ward off bad energy for the respective zodiac year.
