A Ko-Imari soba-choko cup, fired during the mid Edo period. This early style, distinguished by its well-defined footring, was once thought to belong to the Early Imari type (c. 1610–1640’s), but is now generally dated to the Kyōhō–Hōreki era (c. 1716–1764). The vessel is covered with a thick, softly pooling glaze applied by namagake—a technique in which the glaze is applied directly to the unfired body—while plum blossoms and a small bird are rendered with unaffected simplicity. Its warm, unrefined character stands in marked contrast to the more precise and refined soba choko produced in later decades.

Among the many varieties of Ko-Imari soba choko, this is a piece that seems complete in itself: an object of quiet charm and enduring appeal, inviting both daily use and close appreciation.

A shallow dent is present on part of the rim, though it is original to the firing and covered by the glaze. Apart from kiln flaws, there are no notable defects, and the condition is excellent.