An 18th century Japanese Arita porcelain moulded dish, circa 1750 ~ 1780. The dish with a cavetto moulded with foliage and lotus flowers within a barbed rim. The centre sporting a fine underglaze blue ferocious dragon and pearl amongst coloured clouds. Within the foot-rim is an unusual six-character Yongzheng mark. A dish of this design is illustrated in Shibata, “Complete Catalogue of the Shibata Collection” The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, # 3359.

Approximately 21.2cm diameter...

A high quality crisply cast Japanese mirror. The reverse of the mirror decorated in high relief with a conventionalised representation of the utopian Isle of the Immortals typical of the Edo period integrating into the design the auspicious Takasago twin branched pine tree with a pair of flying cranes and a Minogame in the left hand corner. All set against a crisp granular ground. Probably late Edo period, or possibly slightly earlier...

An Imari miniature condiment set of hexagonal baluster form decorated with trailing foliage in underglaze blue, iron red and gilding. Consisting of four small ewers, three marked with A for azin, vinegar, one marked with “S” for syrup; three with plain covers, one with a perforated cover. A complete pepper pot with perforated cover, 7cm high, and a pillar form salt, 6.2cm high...

A rather unusual export dish decorated with a Kraak style border of six larger panels containing respectively a pair of Peaches, symbols of Longevity, and a scroll and whisk, representative of the Eight precious objects, Baxia, with the smaller intermediate panels decorated with a combined clove and jewelled Rhinoceros horn motif...

A large plate decorated in the three colour sancai palette with a central Peony motif with three reserves one with Peonies, emblematic of Spring, a pair of Quails beneath Millet and another with Chrysanthemums, emblematic of the months of Autumn. The partially ogee form reserves set against a blue brocade ground with stylised Chrysanthemums. The reverse decorated with three Peony sprigs. A three spur marks in a triangular arrangement to the base...

A large plate decorated in the three colour sancai palette with a central Peony motif with three reserves one with Peonies, emblematic of Spring, a pair of Quails beneath Millet and another with Chrysanthemums, emblematic of the months of Autumn. The partially ogee form reserves set against a blue brocade ground with stylised Chrysanthemums. The reverse decorated with three Peony sprigs. A three spur marks in a triangular arrangement to the base...

A large plate decorated in the three colour sancai palette with a central Peony motif with three reserves one with Peonies, emblematic of Spring, a pair of Quails beneath Millet and another with Chrysanthemums, emblematic of the months of Autumn. The partially ogee form reserves set against a blue brocade ground with stylised Chrysanthemums. The reverse decorated with three Peony sprigs. A single spur to the base...

This captivating bin-kake, or traditional brazier for tea ceremony, is crafted from fine celadon porcelain using methods first perfected in the southern Song Dynasty. The outside is decorated with low-relief Peony flowers which display a vivid sheen, owing mainly to the expert craftsmanship of the Meiji period Imperial Court artist Suwa Sozan who created this wonderful masterpiece...

A tall beaker of bell form decorated in underglaze blue with a pair of auspicious Dragons each clasping a “tama” pearl above its head set against a lightening field with auspicious ruyi form clouds supporting respectively artemesin leaves on which are a pair of scrolls bound by ribbons and a flaming pearl. The design has been adapted from a Chinese precedent of the sixteenth century but with a Japanese twist to the design...

A tall beaker of bell form decorated in underglaze blue with a pair of auspicious Dragons each clasping a “tama” pearl above its head set against a lightening field with auspicious ruyi form clouds supporting respectively artemesin leaves on which are a pair of scrolls bound by ribbons and a flaming pearl. The design has been adapted from a Chinese precedent of the sixteenth century but with a Japanese twist to the design...

A similar pair of dishes to EW 3037 but without the additional gilding and iron red decoration. Designs featuring Karako were popular both in China and Japan at this period they were both symbolic of joy and a wish for children, kodakara; the treasure that is children...

A pair of Arita dishes moulded in so-called suhama form; a stylised interpretation of a wave washed beach often associated with the Isles of the Immortals. Painted in underglaze blue with a group of five auspicious karako, Chinese Boys, bound together with a ribbon or rope; symbols of joy and a wish for offspring...

A pair of a very well painted Kutani porcelain sake bottles painted in “Kenjo Imari” style painted with gilt karakusa to the neck with various marumon, a band of diaper to the shoulder, and further aka-e dama, and stylised karahasna-mon. to the body of the bottle. The vases are thinly potted and wreathing to the interior of the neck suggests that they were originally thrown in two parts. Dating probably late Meji period. Each vase measures approximately 17 cm in height and are approximately...

Used for ceremonial purposes by the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. Traditionally, the jue vessel was made of bronze with a pouring spout on either end and a pair of capped posts rising from the rim. This ceramic jue cup is done in fine porcelain with underglaze enamel and is described on the tomobako as being a jue-shaped incense burner (korou). One of Chikusen’s finest works, the painting shows a pastoral scene in the countryside in Japan.

Miura Chikusen (1854 - 1915) was an exc...

This peach-shaped kogo (incense box) is made of fine kinuta celadon from one of the great masters of the Meiji era—Suwa Sozan. A classic design, the peach is said to represent long-life for mortals and immortality for the gods in asian folklore. According to legend, the moon goddess—a powerful alchemist—can make an elixir from peaches that grow in the garden of the western paradise with miraculous revitalizing properties.

Suwa Sozan the first (1852—1922) was born in an area...

An Arita blue & white porcelain dish decorated with a pavilion and poetry, an equestrian and servant in the foreground. The dish is moulded with a shallow ‘rinka’ edge. The back is plain and has three spur marks within the foot-rim.

An identical dish is illustrated in the Shibata Collection Vol.4, #303 where it is dated to 1770~1800.

Approximately 17.8 cm diameter. The dish has some light wear from normal use but is otherwise in fine condition. There is a slight glaze blem...

An Arita blue & white porcelain dish decorated with a pavilion and poetry, an equestrian and servant in the foreground. The dish is moulded with a shallow ‘rinka’ edge. The back is plain and has three spur marks within the foot-rim.

An identical dish is illustrated in the Shibata Collection Vol.4, #303 where it is dated to 1770~1800.

Approximately 18 cm diameter. The dish has some light wear from normal use, plate stacking for example, but is otherwise in fine condition. ...

A JAPANESE ARITA PORCELAIN SQUARE DISH, EDO PERIOD.

An attractive Japanese Arita porcelain square dish with canted corners, decorated with an oversized sage lost in reverie by a lake. The unusual borders completely painted with figures in a landscape. Late 18th ~ early 19th century.

By repute once part of the Bigelow Collection and disposed by auction in New England a few years ago.

Approximately 15.5cm square. The dish has a small edge chip, otherwise in perfect condition...