ARITA c.1655 – 1670 Japanese Porcelain

A Japanese Blue and White Porcelain Dish, Arita Ware, Possibly from the Nangawara Kilns c.1655-1670. Decorated with a Quite Atmospheric Moon-Lit Scene of a Lone Fisherman on a Shallow Boat Among Reeds, with a Pair of Geese Flying off Into the Distance. The Cavetto Moulded in Relief with Nyoi -Head Shaped Cartouches Set Against a Cobalt Blue Ground with Sumihajiki Decoration.

SOLD

Condition
Very good, one 1 mm rim frit.
Size
Diameter : 20.6 cm (8 1/4 inches )
Provenance
N/A
Stock number
211481
References
For a very similar dish see : The Shibata Collection Volume VII (Akihiko Shibata and Yuko Shibata and others, The Kyushu Ceramic Museum) plate 166.

Photos

Information

Sumihajiki :
This type of ceramic decoration appears in Japan just after the middle of the 17th century, although its origins are much earlier. The effect created is that of painted white lines cutting through blue, this is achieved using a wax resist type paint called `sumi` which protects the white porcelain from the cobalt blue over-painting. The `sumi` is burnt off during the firing to leaving white lines to contrast against the blue.