A very fine and rare Early Enamelled Arita Ko-Kutani non-biscuit (namagake) porcelain dish depicting Wild Geese and Reeds, from the ancient Song Dynasty 'Wild Goose descending to Sandbar' design
 
Arita kiln, Early Enamelled ware, Ko Kutani type or an early enamellers workshop, Hizen province, Japan
early Edo period, Joo era (1650-55)
circa 1650
 
With outstretched wings, a wild goose descends to the waters below, honking greeting at his mate who stands by another goose on a reedy sandbank. This theme of 'Goose Descending to Sandbar' is derived from the great Song cycle of painting - 'Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers', the earliest known painted version by Song Di (c.1015 - c.1080). This theme was beloved in Japan. The composition on this piece is very similar to a silk painting by Lu Ji (c.1420 - c.1505) entitled 'Lu ding lai yan' ('Wild Geese Returning to Reedy Sandbank') illustrated in Gugong shuhua tulu (Palace Museum Catalogue of Calligraphy and Paintings), col.7, p.179. The theme of geese in late autumn on a lonely river bank heralds the coming of winter.
 
This very early Arita-kiln non-biscuit (namagake) porcelain of circular form with gently flared rim is covered with a very pale bluish-grey glaze, the interior superbly painted with the five overglaze enamels of pale yellow, brilliant blue, turquoise green, iron red and bold aubergine, with black outlining, depicting a wild goose in flight above two geese standing amongst reeds on a sandbank. The underside is decorated with black outlined turquoise-green symbolic objects and iron red tassels. This early enamelled dish was manufactured in Arita just before trade with Europe through the V.O.C. (Dutch East India Company) began. Though categorized as the so-called Ko Kutani, it is likely that this dish was decorated by an early enamelling workshop which may have been a predecessor of or related to the Kakiemon.
 
Measurements:
14.2 cm diameter x 2.5 cm high
 
Condition report:
Very good condition. A minuscule rim chip less than 1mm invisibly repaired. Minor scratches to blue enamel.