Lucky Faces Square Sauce Plate

The four variations of this square plate each feature a familiar face from Japanese folk culture. The okame mask shows a round-cheeked woman also called otafuku, meaning “much good fortune,” and at festivals she often dances beside hyottoko, a comical man whose pursed lips come from blowing on a fire. Fukusuke, a big-headed figure bowing in formal dress, has long sat in shops to welcome customers and prosperity. The daruma, a round red doll that rights itself when knocked over, gets one eye painted in when a wish is made and the other once it comes true. A red dot sits at each corner, and a thin brown line traces the rim. With a little more room than most sauce plates, it can take a small side dish or a few bites of dessert. The daruma design makes a thoughtful present for someone working toward a goal.