Minoyaki porcelain rāmen bowl, FUKIZUMITOKUSA pattern

FUKIZUMI is one of painting techniques used to create patterns on works of art that appear to have been sprayed with sumi ink (Japanese solid ink).

It is a technique often used for tinted porcelain, in which paint dissolved in water is sprayed by rubbing a hard-bristled brush through a fine-mesh sieve to create a mist that adheres to the surface of the work. TOKUSA is a fern in Toxopodiaceae family.

It is a plant without flowers or leaves, just a stem that grows vertically. Its upright shape has been appreciated since Edo period (1603-1867) as a symbol of growth and prosperity. TOKUSA is a plant that grows in Japanese homes front yard, with numerous stems growing compactly.

In the past, it was said that if you polished gold with TOKUSA, shine of gold would be polished and become even brighter.