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. In addition a Chinese style Fan and a Double gourd are painted in iron red and gilt to complete the design...

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...

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)...

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...

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...

The inside of the bowl is painted with cherry tree boughs laden with blossoms—done in a dazzling underglaze blue-and-white porcelain distinctive of Imari-wares. Below, the trunks of the trees can be seen grounded in a grassy field resting on an abstract ring of karakusa (arabesque). The center of the bowl displays a fashioned wreath of cherry blossoms strung together with field grasses. The outside of the bowl shows darkly pigmented cherry blossoms and berries running around the circumference ...

With meticulously sculpted vines and fantastic Peony blossoms in low relief on the kinuta celadon powdery blue background, this extraordinary vase is a truly Japanese expression of classical Chinese motifs. Reminiscent of floral designs produced by legendary pottery Itaya Hazan and other Imperial Court Artists of the time such as Seifu Yohei and Ito Tozan, this vase was potted at the very beginning of an era when such works came into fashion towards the end of the Meiji period.

Suwa...

A finely enamelled Japanese export bowl decorated with Chrysanthemums and Peonies between a pair of Fan Shaped reserves of Kiku form. The petals alternating between a gilt leaf and tendril blue brocade and an unusual iron red shaded wash. The veins of the gilt leaves created by the use of a scraffito technique. The interior with a band of peony and prunus sprigs. The central well of the bowl decorated with an iron red and gilt kiku mon. A single ring to the interior of the foot-rim of the bowl. ...

This Hirado-yaki brush-rest—fashioned for the scholars desk of a bygone era—features meticulously sculpted plum blossoms set in a porcelain reproduction of a knotted plum branch. Hirado wares—alternately known as Mikawachi wares in some contexts—are known throughout Japan and also abroad for their high quality and fine craftsmanship and date back at least as far as the mid-18th century when they were produced exclusively for powerful lords and their families. In the 19th century, Hirado ...

A pair of Namasu or small serving bowls in revived Kakiemon style decorated with a depiction of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove in low moulded relief; here represented by just two of them. The Sages were synominous with a hedonistic lifestyle of drinking and poetry. The foliate rims of the dishes are painted with a fuchi beni, iron brown glaze. The central roundel in the well of each bowl is decorated with a Namban or Tojin style figure of a European with a two legged long tailed dog like cr...

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. The dish dates to the period 1700-...

A good Arita sometsuke style dish probably from one of the favoured inner set of kilns at Arita, the so-called Uchiyama kilns. The dish is decorated with a border of stylised waves, painted in reverse style, with a single branch of a Camelia Tree in the centre. The underside of the dish decorated with a pair of sketchily painted Gourd vines. For an identical dish see no 216 of the Shibata Collection Part II at page 87. There dated circa 1660-80. The dish measures approximately 18.1 cm in diam...

A Namasu or small serving bowl in revived Kakiemon style decorated with a depiction of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove in low moulded relief; here represented by just two of them. The Sages were synominous with a hedonistic lifestyle of drinking and poetry. The foliate rim of the dish with a fuchi beni, brown glaze. The central roundel in the well of the bowl decorated with a Namban or Tojin style figure of a European with a two legged long tailed dog like creature. This is the kind of n...

A Namasu or small serving bowl in revived Kakiemon style decorated with a depiction of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove in low moulded relief; here represented by just two of them. The Sages were synominous with a hedonistic lifestyle of drinking and poetry. The foliate rim of the dish with a fuchi beni, brown glaze. The central roundel in the well of the bowl decorated with a Namban or Tojin style figure of a European with a two legged long tailed dog like creature. This is the kind of novel...

An interesting dish of moulded Kraak form decorated with a partially obscured Chinese four toed Dragon painted in underglaze cobalt blue with gilt outlined enamelled auspicious clouds framed by a band of stylised Chrysanthemum demi-florets to the rim. The reverse of the dish is decorated in underglaze blue with stylised Chinese style auspicious clouds and a six character mark for the Emperor Yongzheng. An identical dish appears in the Shibata collection dated circa 1750-80, although I think the ...

A set of five Sake cups of tapering cylyndrical form, nozoki, decorated in underglaze blue with a diaper border, renzuku mon, to inside of the mouth, and an iron red diaper ground inset with shaped reserves or mikomi, each containg a gilt outlined and enameled Suisen, the Japanese Narcissus with Chrysanthemum demi florets in iron red and gilt with matsuawabishi mon in underglaze blue flanking them. The cups date to the end of the late Mid Edo period. The cups measure between 5.5cm and 6cm high ...

A pair of Hirado dishes decorated with scenes adapted from the woodcuts of Utagawa Hiroshige. The dish on the left hand side is adapted from the Sixty Nine Stations of the Kiso Kaido, principally the station at Itabishi and in part, the pedlar with basket, the station at Takasaki. The dish on the right hand side shows a group of figures struggling against a gale probably inspired by the woodcutShono Shono from the Fifty three Stations on Tokaido Highway, but adapted with a great deal of licence....

An interesting namasu, serving dish or bowl, decorated entirely with green, aubergine, yellow, black and red enamels. A palette and style of decoration not dissimilar to that used in the mid seventeenth century that covers the whole of the interior of a dish with enamel decoration. In this case the enamelling disguises an unglazed ring to the interior of the bowl that would have enabled another dish to be stacked on it in the saggar. The base of the dish has spur marks where three spurs once sup...

A late Eighteenth century hexagonal form drinking cup painted with panels of Birds with various flowers, Chrysanthemums, Persimmon and Peach flowers with accompanying panels of reverse. The kacho-ga paintings are exceptionally well painted. The interior of the cup painted with a band of flowering Camellia and Peaches set against a dark blue ground. The bottom of the bowl decorated with further a pair of Camelias, and Peach branches. A four character Chenghua reign mark to the interior of the fo...

An Arita long dish of sampan form somewhat deeper and narrower than usually found. Painted with an idealised Chinese style landscape incorporating the elements of water and land. The cavetto painted with stylised lotus flowers enmeshed within a Hagi-karakusa, Bush clover vine arabesque. Gobenka with karakusa motifs to the sides of the dish, and a similar auspicious Lozenge (one of the Eight Precious objects) with karakusa at each end. A four character fukichosun mark to the interior of the foo...

A long dish of conventional form decorated in senbeki, pencilled, style with a pair of four toed Chinese Dragons in pursuit of flaming pearls all set against a lightening field. The central reserve decorated with stylised tadpole like thunder bolts. The reverse decorated with further lightening motifs and pearls. A small square seal mark containing the character Ho, precious treasure. Shards with this mark have been recovered from the kiln site of the Hokaoyama kiln dating to the late mid Ed...

A pair of Arita plates decorated in underglaze blues with enamels. The centre painted with a large tripod censer containing Spring flowering Peonies on a low table flanked by a pair of flower vases, containing Autumn flowering Pinkes and Chrysanthemums with a pair of birds. The rim painted with a pair of Hoo birds with Chrysanthemums and Peonies. The plate on the left uses blue enamels, as found in the Kakiemon palette, rather than aubergine enamels as used on the right. The reverse un-decorate...

An unusual Arita bowl decorated to the exterior with an auspicious Hundred Chinese Boys pattern, baizi tu, which shows karako, Chinese boys, engaged in various playful activities, principally Fan and Flag waving, moving large objects and chasing chicken. There may be references to various Chinese folk tales within the procession. The enormous water jar is probably a reference to the tale of Sima Guang and so on. Some of the figures may represent avatars of the Eight immortals identifiable by th...

A large impressive shallow dish of typical export type decorated with two boughs of auspicious Chrysanthemums and Cherry blossom to the centre. The border divided into a set of six elliptical reserves each containing Butterflies and Peonies by a series stylised floral motifs inset against alternating blue and blue and green enamel grounds. The reverse simply decorated with Chrysanthemum Sprigs. The dish dates to the period 1710-1730, the Kyoho period. The dish is large measuring approximately 3...

A good Arita vase of bulbous ovoid form decorated with three panels featuring traditional kacho-ga motifs, birds and flowers, including Chrysanthemums, Camelias and Peonies. The neck and shoulder of the vase decorated with horizontal bands of palisade like vertical stripes and stylised overlapping petals. Each panel divided by a stylised Lotuses with kara kusa scrolls, and the base decorated with a simple saw tooth pattern. The vase dates to circa 1680, the late seventeenth century, contemporary...