A striking Early Enamelled Arita Ko-Kutani type cloud-form porcelain dish depicting a finely press-moulded Moon Rabbit leaping over waves Nami ni Usagi and highlighted with gilding, beneath enamelled patterned clouds, the reverse with scattered pine needles

Arita kiln, Ko Kutani type or early enamellers workshop, Hizen province, Japan / Edo period c1655-60

circa 1655-60

MARK

A turquoise green enamelled fuku mark outlined in a black enamel double-square.

MEASUREMENTS

15.3 cm long x 11.0 cm wide

CONDITION

In very good original condition with virtually no wear to enamels on the front, some rubbing to gilding. Minor wear to iron-red pine needles and fuku mark on reverse.

This early Arita-kiln moulded porcelain mukozuke dish of irregular shape with gently flattened rim, superbly moulded with raised elements, including a relief-moulded leaping Moon Rabbit outlined with gilding. Painted in an attractive palette of iron-red, brilliant green, pale yellow, black outlining and very finely applied gold gilding. The underside featuring scattered iron-red pine needles.

The 'Moon Rabbit leaping over Waves' motif known as Nami ni Usagi was legendary in Edo Period Japan. The motif was popularized by the Noh play Chikubushima which features a line describing Chikubu Island at night, that can be translated to "The lake reflects the green shadow of the forest. Fish in the water seem as if they are climbing up the trees. When the moon rises above the lake, will the moon rabbit hop upon the waves?" The imagery of a white hare leaping over waves symbolizing vitality and overcoming obstacles. This auspicious motif is highly regarded as a symbol of striding forward and conquering difficulties.

The Moon Rabbit and Waves motif first appears in ancient Japanese myth of 'The White Hare of Inaba' which is found in the Kojiki - the oldest extant chronicle in Japan, which dates from early in the 8th century (711-712). The tale tells of a clever white rabbit who tricked sharks into forming a bridge so that it could cross the water. The visual motif of a rabbit leaping over stylized waves is a direct artistic interpretation of the white hare traversing the backs of sharks to cross the sea.

As in the present example, the hare is frequently depicted mid-leap or "dancing" over the waves, embodying the idea of only moving forward and never taking steps back, thus representing progress, energy, and overcoming obstacles.

STORAGE

With a traditional Japanese paulownia wood tomobako storage box and silk ribbon.