A large Japanese Imari dish of saucer form with slightly everted rim decorated in underglaze blue, iron red and gilding with a central motif of a vase on a verandah containing an arrangement of Peony and Chrysanthemum flowers. The cavetto of the dish decorated with an underglaze blue brocade ground inset with three lobed reserves containing Hydrangea, Ajisai, Chrysanthemums, Kiku, and Peonies, Botan. The reverse decorated with three Peony sprigs to the reverse...

A fine quality early eighteenth century dish decorated with a rather unusual Indian “sarasa” pattern with a Buddhist theme. The design is composed of flowers arranged in columns and rows. Inset within the “sarasa” ground are three lobed niche like reserves each containing a Dharma singing bird, emanations of the Amitabha Buddha, that reside in the Buddha’s Pure Land paradise...

A very unusual Arita barber’s bowl dating to the second quarter of the 18th century. The oval body is moulded and features butterflies and peonies on a ribbed ground. This form is very likely to have been based on Dutch Delft pottery or perhaps a silver example. The interior is decorated in a rather striking manner with a band of underglaze blue fishes amongst breaking waves. The reverse is decorated with prunus sprigs, and two holes to the foot-rim to allow suspension...

A fine early 18th sake flask, Tokkuri, of European form, the shape derived from Dutch Gin bottles. It is decorated with alternating panels of the Three Friends of Winter, Shochikubai, and a rather unusual combination of a Dragon amongst clouds, and stylised Ginko. The shoulders of the bottle are decorated with stylised Lotus mon amongst karakusa, and the top with a tako-karakusa, octopus scroll, border.

Approximately 19 cm 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...

1700s

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.

An unusual rectangular small Koro, Incense burner, decorated in under-glaze blue, iron red and gilding set upon four small feet. Each side of the censer is decorated with bands of diaper brocade inset with rectangular panels containing stylised arabesques set against an iron red ground. The square end panels suggesting a Taotie mask. The koro is of slab construction with applied moulded feet. It measures 8cm long and 6.7cm wide and stands 7.5cm high...

Large Ko Imari Shochikubai Roundels Dish c.1730 No 2 An unusual dish decorated with a principal motif of three wreaths, wahana, each representing one of the three elements of the Shochikubai, further intersected and linked by a central ring all painted in underglaze blue with some gilt outlining. A type of design that is more frequently found used in the context of Lacquer and textiles...

An interesting pair of Japanese Arita saucer form dishes decorated in a transitional style incorporating elements of the Kakiemon style, notably the asymmetric elements within the reserves to the outer rim of the dish, with Katamono style motifs dating to the late 17th century or early 18th century made for the domestic market. For a more sophisticated version of this type of design in Katamono style dated 1680-1700 see Shibata Volume II no 422...

A large deep bowl with bulls eye base decorated with a Kraak fuyo-de style pattern to the interior and exterior with the central mikomi decorated within a classic Chinese landscape with the figure of the Chinese poet Lin Bu contemplating a small gnarled tree, presumably a Mountain plum, upon a rocky outcrop...

An Imari dish decorated with a central motif of bronze vase or censer with elaborate foliate handles containing Peonies, Maple branches and other flowers, flanked by low balustrade fences and sitting on board floor. The rim decorated with an unusual Aoi-mon (Tokugawa-mon) vine arabesque Karakusa border. The dish dates to the early 18th century circa 1700-1730. The reverse decorated with three branches of Peach blossom. A single ring to the interior of the footring...

An Arita Blue and White Tea Bowl and Saucer. Decorated with a Sage and attendant visiting a Lady, two geese seemingly arguing below them. Arita, Japan C17/18thC. Diameter saucer; 11.6 cm. Condition; tea bowl perfect, some glaze crazing to the saucer

A fine seji, celadon, and sometsuke style dish. In the early eighteenth century it would appear that this style of decoration was the preserve of the Nabeshima kiln. However in the Kyoho era during the Shogunates economy drive this style of porcelain was largely replaced with sometsuke patterns...

A Japanese Arita dish, in Kakiemon style, of rhomboid shape with rounded, spreading sides rising from a circular foot. The inside is decorated round the sides with a continuous 'classic scroll' boldly moulded in relief, and below with a design painted in pale blue, red, green, black and pale yellow enamels. The rim is glazed brown...

Japanese Imari Figure of a Leaping Carp. The moulded scaled body with blue and iron red colouring. C1700/40. Height 11.6 cm. Condition: excellent, no cracks, chips or restoration.

An Arita Nagazara decorated with a Chinese style estuarine landscape in underglaze blue. The reverse decorated with further island vignettes and the base with a four character Chenghua mark. The dish dates to the late 18th century circa 1770-1800. The dish measures 20.8cm in length, 12.4cm in width with a height of 3.8cm. It weighs 378 grams. It is in good condition with no cracks, chips or restoration.

The dish is in “Ko Sometsuke” style. It is decorated entirely in underglaze blue with an Island Scene shrouded in auspicious ruyi form clouds which recedes into the background, three geese Kari occupy the mid ground (a seasonal motif associated with Autumn) and in the foreground Arumi rough waves crash over kaisou, water weeds, and Conches, horagai and Scallops, hotategai. The abalone form, awabigata, was considered especially auspicious, as noshi, dried awabi strips, were formally pres...

A dish of distinctive ribbed petal kikugata form decorated in a three colour palette of under-glaze blue, iron red and gilding. Painted with a central motif of a stylised sansui landscape based on one of the eight views of Omi framed by elaborate symmetrically arranged Thistle sprays, azami, emblematic of spring. The dish measures 22cm in diameter and stands 3cm to the rim. The dish is in overall good condition, but there are some small areas of crazing to the rim and several short hairlines, p...