Probably Kama No Tsuji Kilns, c.1690 – 1730. Japanese Porcelain.

A Rare Japanese Blue and White Japanese Stencilled Dish, Probably from the Kama No Tsuji Kilns, c.1690 – 1730. Decorated with Wisteria and Bamboo. The Reverse Decorated with Karakusa Scrolling Foliage and the Base with a `Running` Fuku Mark. The Rim with an Iron-Oxide Fuchibeni Dressing.

SOLD

Condition
Perfect.
Size
Diameter : 15.4 cm (6 1/8 inches).
Provenance
N/A
Stock number
21555

Information

The dish is decorated with an all over pattern of Fuji, trailing wisteria, clambering over a bamboo trellis, a decorative motif known as Fujidana, a popular auspicious motif. The broken bamboo canes and the wind-blown appearance of the wisteria is probably intended to invoke a poetic notion of Harukaze, the Spring wind, which involves a pun upon the first syllable of the word `Fu-ji`, Fu sounding like the words for wealth and wind.

Stencilled Designs :
This technique adapted from textile production was employed contemporaneously at the Nabeshima kiln, and although apparently a mass production technique, it has been suggested that it was actually reserved for use on more expensive porcelains, because of the cost of the actual stencils; the object being to produce patterns of a standard or identical appearance. This class of porcelain was produced at the Kama no Tsuji kiln in the Nangawara valley for a comparatively short period between the years 1690 to 1730 and was made primarily for the domestic market. It has been suggested that the production of this style of porcelain stopped because the skilled workers were subsequently employed at the Nabeshima kiln.