0106　Japanese porcelain "henkei"　変形皿

昔は料理の種類に応じて器が選ばれ、長皿や変身皿は焼き魚や刺身などの魚料理に使われていました。
長皿は長方形で、変形皿は葉や魚など様々な形をしています。
一般的に、絵付けの意匠やモチーフは遊び心があり独創的で、食事を特別で楽しいものにするために不可欠な役割を果たしています。

In old days, the dishes were chosen according to the kind of a food or a dish to serve, and the nagazara and the henkeizara were used specifically for a fish dish such as grilled fish and sashimi.  The nagazara is rectangle on one hand, and the henkeizara is in a variety of shapes like a leaf, fish and so on, on the other. 
　In general the designs and motifs by etsuke painting are playful and ingenious, which plays an indispensable role to make food experience special and entertaining.