A very rare mid 17th century Early Enamelled (iroe) Arita Ko-Kutani type non-biscuit (namagake) porcelain dish enamelled with a vibrant sprig of horse chestnut encirled by folded pine needes
 
Arita kiln, Early Enamelled ware, Ko Kutani type or an early enamellers workshop, Hizen province, Japan
early Edo period (mid 17th century)
circa 1650
 
Decorated with an asymmetrically placed sprig bearing a horse chestnut enamelled in brilliant green with internal sections of aubergine and yellow with black outlining, the leaves in green and deep yellow, the design featuring a superb asymmetrical use of blank space, epitomizing the Japanese Beauty of Emptiness (yohaku no bi). The rim enamelled with three folded pine needles in iron-red, green and black outlining.
The reverse with a central green enamel and black outlined
'Fuku' character mark, the reverse rim with three folded pine needles in iron-red, green and black outlining.
 
The coloured palette of iron-red, deep yellow, indigo blue, rich aubergine and brilliant green with black outlining is traditionally associated with the early enamelled wares of the town of Kutani. Though it was previously thought that this type of Japanese porcelain was made at the Old Kutani kilns in Enuma County, it is now accepted that this thinly potted shallow circular bowl was made in the middle of the 17th century in the Arita kilns. We can now call this type of early Japanese porcelain "Arita porcelain of Ko-Kutani type".
 
With a Japanese paulownia wood storage box and ribbon tie.
 
Measurements
14.3 cm diameter, 2.0 cm high
 
Condition
In very good condition with small kintsugi (gold lacquer) repair to the rim. The enamels in superb condition.