Catalog (29)

These dishes have an underglaze blue design of treasure ships (wishes for good fortune). The reverse of each is painted with a stylized wave design encircling the foot and a double gourd mark with two characters is painted on the bases. Acquired in the 1960s from an American collection. There are minor nicks to the glaze on the rims, otherwise good condition – no cracks or repairs.

Diameter: 6 7/8 in., Height: 1 in.

The shape of this lobed dish with three sides was likely inspired by ceramic forms said to be based on the shape of Mount Fuji. The shallow tri-lobed dish is set on a raised foot with its circumference painted in a continuous fretwork pattern in underglaze cobalt blue. In the center of the glazed base is a square seal-form fuku mark. The edge of the flaring rim is enameled brown. A basket of flowers in the standard Kakiemon palette is painted to one side of the interior making a pleasant asymmetric effect against the clear-glazed white porcelain background.

Height: 1 1/8 in.; Width: 6 ½ in.

In the Karatsu style, but probably Kyoto ware. The buff-colored stoneware body is decorated with a stylized plum tree design in underglaze iron oxide with white slip clay for the blossoms. It is covered overall in a clear glaze that thickens a bit along one side of the inner wall, making a curtain effect. Opposite sides of the dish have been knife-cut for aesthetic appeal. The underside is clear glazed over hastily painted designs in iron oxide and white slip. The base and footring are unglazed with handwritten characters in sumi ink – Takayasu?, maybe an owner's mark. The rim is edged in iron oxide and there are several small old rim chips. A small kiln crack from the firing can be seen near the footring. This bowl was likely made for the tea ceremony, intended for serving sweet cakes to the guests.

Diameter: 8 in., Height: 2 1/2 in.

This bowl is decorated with a pine branch in underglaze blue and brown. A characteristic V groove cut is present in the footring, and an impressed seal of the artist / potter is on the base inside the foot. It is in good condition.

Diameter: 5 in., Height: 3in.

This shallow bowl-form dish is decorated with a peony growing from a rocky ground in underglaze cobalt blue. It is set on a high foot--characteristic of classic Nabeshima dishes. The foot is painted with the so-called comb tooth pattern often seen on dishes of this sort. It is glazed overall in an even, clear glaze that takes on a very slight, pale celadon tinge on the exterior. The base is glazed and the fine paste is exposed on the footring. The condition is very good, having no chips, cracks or restorations. It was acquired in Japan in the early 1970s.

Height: 2 3/8 in.; Diameter: 8 in.

This tall, unusual stand is decorated with cobalt blue under the glaze and with overglaze enamels in iron-red, green, and gold. It has four large cutouts on the sides, revealing the interior that is glazed white. The cut edges of the open cartouches are dressed with gilt enamel as is also the top rim. The footrim is unglazed, exposing the white porcelain body. It is in very good condition with no repairs or damages, with only minor wear to the enamels.

Height: 6 5/8 in., Width: 7 ¼ in.

These bottles are decorated in underglaze cobalt blue and colored enamels with a design of various painted fans floating on an iron red enamel ground that is covered with gilt spirals. The interiors and mouthrims are clear glazed. The bases are glazed clear and the footrings are unglazed, exposing the fine white porcelain paste. They are signed Kozan (Dai Nippon Kozan Sei) in underglaze blue. Both are in very good condition. Acquired from a collector in Fredericksburg, Virginia circa 1990.

Height: 8 in., Diameter: 4 ¼ in.

This dish is decorated in underglaze cobalt blue with a strong palette of red and green overglaze enamel with gold highlights. The base is inscribed with a spurious Chinese Wanli mark in underglaze cobalt blue. Good condition, with light wear, no restorations.

Diameter: 12 in., Height: 2 1/4 in.

An example of “Kenjo” Imari presentation ware, having high quality enamel decoration in reds, green, aubergine and gilding surrounding underglaze cobalt blue. There is a fine, lightly stained crackle to the interior and exterior base. This piece was made for domestic use in Japan and was not intended for export. Overall good condition. Purchased in Kyoto ca. 1974.

Diameter: 7 ¼ in., Height: 3 in.

Finely potted shallow bowl-form dish with an everted octagonal rim, painted on the exterior in underglaze cobalt blue with a scrolling vine and flower motif. The interior is delicately painted in overglaze enamels with a scene of a male and a female pheasant among flowers and the rim is decorated with eight flower scrolls in red, green and blue enamel colors and gilding. The bowl is raised on a low footring encircled by three underglaze blue lines. The base is glazed and has one underglaze blue circle within the footring. The foot is unglazed exposing the fine white paste—now partially obscured by some soiling. Overall condition is very good. The glaze is even and clear. There is a tiny glaze flake to the green enamel next to one of the rim flowers. There are no damages or repairs to the porcelain.

Height: 1 ½ in.; Diameter: 5 ¼ in.

Each dish is painted with a similar design in colored overglaze enamels with a phoenix bird in flight over a paulownia spray and leafy garlands in the background. Each dish is molded in the shape of a chrysanthemum flower, and set on a low foot. The footring is unglazed, exposing the fine white porcelain body. A “fuku” mark in underglaze blue is painted on the base of each, and an iron-red cash symbol is drawn on the exterior wall. The dishes are four graduated sizes and were intended for serving individual condiments for a formal meal. All are in good condition.

Width: 4 5/8 in., Height: 1 in. Width: 4 ¼ in., Height: 1 ½ in. Width: 3 ½ in., Height: ¾ in. Width: 2 7/8 in., Height: 1 in.

This Satsuma ware tea caddy is made in the shape of a lacquer natsume tea caddy for use in the tea ceremony as a container for powdered green tea. This shape is given this name because it resembles a natsume plum. It is glazed overall with a finely crackled clear glaze showing the buff-colored clay body beneath. Overglaze enamels decorate the top and sides with open and closed fan designs. The interiors of both the lid and container are glazed as is also the base. The base is slightly recessed and a narrow portion of the foot is unglazed exposing the clay body—now darkened from use. The exposed inner rim likewise is naturally stained from years of use. Tea caddies of this form were usually made of wood and lacquer. Ceramic ones are not usually encountered. The design of this piece may have been inspired by the earlier, well-known potter, Nonomura Ninsei (c. 1574-1660), who worked in Kyoto and produced numerous articles in overglaze enameled earthenware for tea ceremony use. Good condition overall—some wear to the gilt enamel. No chips, cracks or repairs.

Height: 2 7/8 in.; Diameter: 3 in.

Shallow bowl-shaped dish is raised on a tall foot and is decorated in underglaze blue with a branch of cherry blossoms encircling the interior. The painting is well-executed and the image is possibly based on a textile design. The underside is painted with three chrysanthemum sprays and the foot is decorated with the characteristic comb tooth pattern. Dish is glazed overall in a clear glaze leaving only the footring unglazed exposing the fine porcelain paste. There are a few small glaze dimples and minor scratches from use. Generally very good condition. No cracks, chips, repairs or restorations.

Height: 2 ¼ in.; Diameter: 8 1/8 in.

Painted in thick overglaze enamels with a scene of fish with human bodies brandishing sticks at a large turtle-like creature. The base in inscribed in gold enamel with a date, a four-character seal and the English name, Thomas Bigelow written in katakana script. The date reads: Meiji 39 (1906), fourth month, tenth day. It is unusual to find specifically dated porcelains and particularly with an individual western name inscribed. This item might have been part of a set ordered by Bigelow or a design furnished by him. Slight wear to the gilding on the rim and minor unevenness to the footring from the firing, but overall good condition.

Diameter: 8 ¼ in.; Height: 1 ½ in.

Patterned after a Chinese Kangxi “Hawthorn” design. This bottle is delicately and rather thinly potted with a long, narrow neck rising from a bulbous body. It is painted in underglaze cobalt blue with a “cracked ice” pattern scattered overall with plum buds and blossoms—a design known among English connoisseurs in the early 20th century as the Hawthorn pattern. This piece is identifiable as Hirado from the unglazed base which shows the very distinctive vitreous paste characteristic of the highly refined porcelain produced at this kiln. The base is very slightly inset and there is a small unglazed footring. The inside is clear glazed. Very good condition.

Height: 6 ¾ in.; Width: 3 ½ in.

This porcelain bowl, molded in chrysanthemum form, is decorated in underglaze cobalt blue and overglaze enamels in red, green and gold. The center of the interior is painted with a 16-petaled flower in underglaze blue, and the well is painted with various plant and landscape scenes. The exterior is surrounded with an underglaze blue floral pattern, and the base is painted with a Chinese “Chenghua” mark, as is often seen on 18th and early 19th Century Imari dishes. The bowl is slightly out of round, but without damages or restorations.

Diameter: 7 in., Height: 2 1/8 in.

The interior is decorated in an underglaze blue sea creature design, and red, green and yellow enamel beneath the rim. The lip has been somewhat squared and turned-in, and the rim is gilded. The base has a six-character Great Japan Eiraku mark. Good condition, no cracks chips or repairs.

Height: 3 ¼, Width: 5 1/2 in.

This large scalloped-rim dish is painted in underglaze cobalt blue with a folk art “mingei” view of Mt. Fuji with pine trees and stylized sailboats on a lake. The painting is hastily brushed in the mingei manner, with a few cobalt drips here and there. It is raised on a low footring with the paste exposed, and six spur marks remain on the glazed base. It was used as a serving vessel for family or communed meals and retains some evidence of use. No repairs or cracks.

Diameter: 11 ¼ in., Height: 1 5/8 in.