An Unusual Mid 17th Century Japanese Porcelain Dish

An Unusual Mid 17th Century Japanese Porcelain Dish, Arita Kilns c.1640 – 1655. This thickly potted trefoil shaped serving dish is in the Chinese taste, however it was made for the Japanese market. A scholar is playing a Koto (a type of plucked zither of Chinese origin, which is now the national instrument of Japan) while his young diminutive servant sits opposite. The are seated in a landscape with a palm and bamboo. The asymmetrically border has diaper patterns, including checkerboard and cash. Three cartouches that are symmetrically placed, contain Ruyi. The rim is dressed with iron rich glaze called Fuchibeni. The back is decorated with three lotus flowers connected by stylised foliage. The base has an unusual five character, rather than a six character Chenghua mark (Ming dynasty 1465-1487). Next to this is a seal mark. There is some black grit adhering to the footrim, and there are no spur marks, indicating this dish was fired on its footrim.

See Below For More Photographs.

SOLD