A Small 18th Century Blue and White Nabeshima Porcelain Dish.
A Small 18th Century Blue and White Nabeshima Porcelain Dish, Ōkawachi Kilns, Saga Prefecture, Island of Kyushu, Japan. This dish was made during the second half of the 18th Century, c.1750-1780, in the authorised kiln belonging to the Nabeshima Clan. This design is highly stylised, a characteristic feature of Nabeshima porcelain. The scene shows gently rippled water with some waves crashing, on the left side near a rock. The right side has bamboo in a much deeper darker shade of cobalt, this is actually just bamboo leaves but we see it as being the plant, despite no bamboo canes being shown. The back has one of the standard repeated designs found on the back of allot of Nabeshima porcelain, three stylised displays of peony flowers and leaves. The typical high foot has the filled lines from a circular line drawn around the junction between the top of the foot and the flared dish.
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- Condition
- In perfect condition.
- Size
- Width 15.5 cm (6 inches). Depth 4.4 cm (1.73 inches).
- Provenance
- N/A
- Stock number
- 27101
- £ GBP
- € EUR
- $ USD
Photos
Information
Tomobako Storage Boxes :
Traditional Japanese ceramic storage boxes, referred to as Tomobako are highly valued and much used in Japan. Most boxes are made from paulownia wood, it is lightweight hardwood and it’s also fire resistant, which is very useful in because Japanese buildings tend to be made of timber and have paper dividers inside. The Islands of Japan are located on a highly complex, unstable, and active geological junction where four major tectonic plates collide and subduct. These islands are essentially built upon the boundaries of these plates, with the archipelago forming as a result of the subduction and volcanic activity caused by these tectonic movements. Therefore the use of tradition tomobako is essential for the survival of ceramics in Japan. Japanese museums don’t have this luxury, so they secure the ceramic objects with nylon, which looks very much like fishing line. The paulownia is a fast growing tree, so it isn’t too expensive. It is believed that the phoenix, symbolising wisdom and prosperity, will only land on a paulownia tree when a worthy ruler is in power.
Tomobako containers that protect, store, and often certify the authenticity of the pottery inside. They are typically signed by the owner of the antique ceramic item in the box. They are tied with cord in a specific way, this is regarded as part of the ritual ceremony among a gathering of friends in Japan. Of course not everything in these boxes is what it might seem. Some contain surprising objects, so you will have to wait and see what we have in these boxes.
