A Set of Five Late 17th or Early 18th Century Japanese Porcelain Dishes Modelled as a Sea-Bream.

c.1690 - 1730.

A Set of Five Japanese Porcelain Dishes Modelled as a Sea-Bream, Arita Kilns c.1690-1730. These moulded fish shaped dishes are painted in broad brush strokes of dark cobalt blue using a wet brush. The blue has settled between the scales along the paler inner edge. The eyes of the fish and a line across the gill cover are probably made using a wax resist technique. The backs are decorated with stylised waves. For other fish dishes of this type in the collection Shibata collection in the Kyushu Ceramic Museum, Japan, see ‘References’ and for dishes of this type sold by Robert McPherson Antiques, see below.

 

 

The Tai, Sea-Bream is one of the most popular fish in Japan. It is sometimes referred to as the King of Fish and is in season during Spring. It can be served in a number of different ways, but all the meat, including that from the head is used, the skin is also eaten, The scalded skin is sliced thin and mixed with scallion and ponzu (Ponzu is a citrus juice and vinegar based shoyu dipping sauce. A serving dish like the present example might have been used to offer Tai Sashimi. This dish consists of the bottom half of the fillet and is eaten raw, simply sliced, it might be served with wasabi and or different sauces. The Tai was an attribute of Ebisu one of the seven Gods of Good Fortune, and it was considered particularly auspicious to eat a whole fish at times of celebration in particular on the occasion of a marriage. The name Tai also rhymes with the word Medetai, meaning auspicious. This type of porcelain dish would probably have been produced as a set of five

See Below for More Photographs and Information.

RESERVED

Condition
In excellent condition, some very slight wear. Some kiln smoke to the back, some areas where the cobalt has fired black on the front, other firing faults.
Size
The size will vary slight : Length : 25.3 cm (10 inches). Depth 4.1 cm (1.6 inches).
Provenance
N/A
Stock number
27215
References
For a very similar Japanese Arita porcelain fish dish dated to c.1690-1730 see : Complete Catalogue of Shibata Collection (Kyushu Ceramic Museum, 2003) page 325, plate 2542. For a very similar Japanese blue and white porcelain fish dish dated to c.1690-1730 see : Complete Catalogue of Shibata Collection (Kyushu Ceramic Museum,2003) page 325, plate 2542. For a similar Japanese Porcelain dish see : The Catalogue of The Shibata Collections, The Exhibition (1) (Akihiko Shibata and Yuko Shibata and others, The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, 1990) Page 153 plate 397. For other 18th Century Japanese Porcelain dishes in the form of Sea Bream see below the Photograph Gallery.

Photos

Information

Sea Bream in Japan

The Tai, Sea-Bream is one of the most popular fish in Japan. It is sometimes referred to as the King of Fish and is in season during Spring. It can be served in a number of different ways, but all the meat, including that from the head is used, the skin is also eaten, The scalded skin is sliced thin and mixed with scallion and ponzu (Ponzu is a citrus juice and vinegar based shoyu dipping sauce. A serving dish like the present example might have been used to offer Tai Sashimi. This dish consists of the bottom half of the fillet and is eaten raw, simply sliced, it might be served with wasabi and or different sauces. The Tai was an attribute of Ebisu one of the seven Gods of Good Fortune, and it was considered particularly auspicious to eat a whole fish at times of celebration in particular on the occasion of a marriage. The name Tai also rhymes with the word Medetai, meaning auspicious. This type of porcelain dish would probably have been produced as a set of five.

 

Japanese art ukiyo-e. Japanese red Sea Bream fish by Utagawa Hiroshige.
Japanese art ukiyo-e. Japanese red Sea Bream fish by Utagawa Hiroshige.

 

 

18th Century Japanese Porcelain Dishes in the Form of a Sea Bream

Robert McPherson Sold Archive.

An 18th Century Japanese Porcelain dish in the form of a sea-bream c.1700-1730. The moulded form is painted in broad brush strokes of dark cobalt blue using a wet brush. The blue has settled between the scales along the paler inner edge. The lower area of the fish has a feint orange lustre wash, gilding has been employed to delineate the gills, eyes, mouth and some of the scales. The base with a Ming four character mark.SOLD Condition In excellent condition. A minute chip to the foot rim c.1 x 1 mm. Minor kiln smoke marks to the back. Size Length : 25.3 cm (10 inches) Provenance N/A Stock number 24191 References For a very similar Japanese Arita porcelain fish dish dated to c.1690-1730 see : Complete Catalogue of Shibata Collection (Kyushu Ceramic Museum, 2003) page 325, plate 2542. For a very similar Japanese blue and white porcelain fish dish dated to c.1690-1730 see : Complete Catalogue of Shibata Collection (Kyushu Ceramic Museum,2003) page 325, plate 2542. For a similar Japanese Porcelain dish see : The Catalogue of The Shibata Collections, The Exhibition (1) (Akihiko Shibata and Yuko Shibata and others, The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, 1990) Page 153 plate 397.
A Japanese Porcelain dish in the form of a sea-bream c.1690-1730. The moulded form is painted in broad brush strokes of dark cobalt blue using a wet brush. The blue has settled between the scales along the paler inner edge. The lower area of the fish has a feint orange lustre wash, gilding has been employed to delineate the gills, eyes, mouth and some of the scales. The base with a Ming four character mark.

Condition
In excellent condition. A minute chip to the foot rim c.1 x 1 mm. Minor kiln smoke marks to the back.
Size
Length : 25.3 cm (10 inches)
Stock number
24191
References
For a very similar Japanese Arita porcelain fish dish dated to c.1690-1730 see : Complete Catalogue of Shibata Collection (Kyushu Ceramic Museum, 2003) page 325, plate 2542. For a very similar Japanese blue and white porcelain fish dish dated to c.1690-1730 see : Complete Catalogue of Shibata Collection (Kyushu Ceramic Museum,2003) page 325, plate 2542. For a similar Japanese Porcelain dish see : The Catalogue of The Shibata Collections, The Exhibition (1) (Akihiko Shibata and Yuko Shibata and others, The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, 1990) Page 153 plate 397.

 

An 18th Century Japanese Porcelain Dish in the Form of a Sea-Bream. The Moulded Form is Painted in Broad Brush Strokes of Dark Cobalt Blue Using a Wet Brush. The Blue has Settled Between the Scales. The Lower Area of the Fish has a Feint Orange Lustre Wash, Gilding has Been Employed to Delineate the Gills, Eyes, Mouth and Some of the Scales. The Base with a Ming Four Character Mark.SOLD Condition There is a small chip repaired with a black filler to the top of the caudal fin (tail) c.9 x 3mm. Size 26 cm (10 inches) Provenance N/A Stock number 22414 References For a very similar Japanese blue and white porcelain fish dish dated to c.1690-1730 see : Complete Catalogue of Shibata Collection (Kyushu Ceramic Museum,2003) page 325, plate 2542. For a similar Japanese Porcelain dish see : The Catalogue of The Shibata Collections, The Exhibition (1) (Akihiko Shibata and Yuko Shibata and others, The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, 1990) Page 153 plate 397. For anothers Japanese porcelain dishes of this type but with gilding see our `Sold Items` 21748, 21749, 22455. For a Japanese celadon glazed porcelain fish dish dated to c.1750-1780 see our `Sold Items` number 20433.
An Japanese Porcelain Dish in the Form of a Sea-Bream c.1690-1730. The Moulded Form is Painted in Broad Brush Strokes of Dark Cobalt Blue Using a Wet Brush. The Blue has Settled Between the Scales. The Lower Area of the Fish has a Feint Orange Lustre Wash, Gilding has Been Employed to Delineate the Gills, Eyes, Mouth and Some of the Scales. The Base with a Ming Four Character Mark.

Condition
There is a small chip repaired with a black filler to the top of the caudal fin (tail) c.9 x 3mm.
Size
26 cm (10 inches)
Stock number
22414
References
For a very similar Japanese blue and white porcelain fish dish dated to c.1690-1730 see : Complete Catalogue of Shibata Collection (Kyushu Ceramic Museum,2003) page 325, plate 2542. For a similar Japanese Porcelain dish see : The Catalogue of The Shibata Collections, The Exhibition (1) (Akihiko Shibata and Yuko Shibata and others, The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, 1990) Page 153 plate 397.  For a Japanese celadon glazed porcelain fish dish dated to c.1750-1780 see our `Sold Items` number 20433.

 

An 18th Century Japanese Porcelain dish in the form of a sea-bream c.1700-1730. The moulded form is painted in broad brush strokes of dark cobalt blue using a wet brush. The blue has settled between the scales along the paler inner edge. The lower area of the fish has a feint orange lustre wash, gilding has been employed to delineate the gills, eyes, mouth and some of the scales. The base with a Ming four character mark.SOLD Condition In excellent condition. A firing crack to the footrim. Size Length: 25.3 cm (10 inches). Provenance N/A Stock number 24190 References For a very similar Japanese Arita porcelain fish dish dated to c.1690-1730 see : Complete Catalogue of Shibata Collection (Kyushu Ceramic Museum, 2003) page 325, plate 2542. For a very similar Japanese blue and white porcelain fish dish dated to c.1690-1730 see : Complete Catalogue of Shibata Collection (Kyushu Ceramic Museum,2003) page 325, plate 2542. For a similar Japanese Porcelain dish see : The Catalogue of The Shibata Collections, The Exhibition (1) (Akihiko Shibata and Yuko Shibata and others, The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, 1990) Page 153 plate 397. For anothers Japanese porcelain dishes of this type but with gilding see our `Sold Items` 21748, 21749, 22455. For a Japanese celadon glazed porcelain fish dish dated to c.1750-1780 see our `Sold Items` number 20433.
An 18th Century Japanese Porcelain dish in the form of a sea-bream c.1700-1730. The moulded form is painted in broad brush strokes of dark cobalt blue using a wet brush. The blue has settled between the scales along the paler inner edge. The lower area of the fish has a feint orange lustre wash, gilding has been employed to delineate the gills, eyes, mouth and some of the scales. The base with a Ming four character mark.

Condition
In excellent condition. A firing crack to the footrim.
Size
Length: 25.3 cm (10 inches).
Stock number
24190
References
For a very similar Japanese Arita porcelain fish dish dated to c.1690-1730 see : Complete Catalogue of Shibata Collection (Kyushu Ceramic Museum, 2003) page 325, plate 2542. For a very similar Japanese blue and white porcelain fish dish dated to c.1690-1730 see : Complete Catalogue of Shibata Collection (Kyushu Ceramic Museum,2003) page 325, plate 2542. For a similar Japanese Porcelain dish see : The Catalogue of The Shibata Collections, The Exhibition (1) (Akihiko Shibata and Yuko Shibata and others, The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, 1990) Page 153 plate 397. For a Japanese celadon glazed porcelain fish dish dated to c.1750-1780 see our `Sold Items` number 20433.