A very fine and rare Kakiemon/Shoki-Nabeshima transitional lozenge-shaped dish, elegantly moulded and exquisitely enamelled with a pair of Immortal Phoenix (ho-o birds) chasing the Sun, c1650-80
Arita, the body Shoki-Nabeshima (Okawachiyama kiln), the enamelled decoration Kakiemon, Hizen province, Japan,
Edo period, Enpō period
circa 1670-80
MEASUREMENTS
14.6 cm long x 13.5 cm wide
CONDITION
Excellent original condition, with only a faint 6mm mark on the side of the rim (barely noticeable). The enamels in exceptional condition.
DESCRIPTION
The superbly moulded white porcelain body was likely fired around the time the Nabeshima clan moved its kiln to Okawachiyama to produce gifts for the Shogun, making it an exceptionally rare piece of early Nabeshima later decorated in the 1670s/80s at the Kakiemon workshops. The Shoki-Nabeshima (early Nabeshima) porcelain body features underglaze blue decoration to the underside only, with refined underglaze cobalt blue chrysanthemum and arabesque scrolls; the high foot formed with 'thread-cutting' technique and decorated with sawtooth design, as exemplified in the early Nabeshima taste. The face of the dish later exquisitely decorated in the Kakiemon style with polychrome enamels of iron-red, deep blue, turquoise green, and black.
This elegantly moulded diamond-shaped dish was formed with the "thread cutting" technique which involved using a thread or wire to precisely trim the excess clay from the base of the piece while still on the potter's wheel, before firing. This method resulted in a very neat, clean, and characteristic finish, which is one of the hallmarks of Nabeshima ware.
Sherds from the same moulds and with identical underglaze cobalt blue decoration to the underside were uncovered at the historical Nabeshima clan kiln site of Okawachiyama.
The pairing of the Peony (The King of Flowers) with the Immortal Phoenix (The King of Birds) represents a highly auspicious design that promises blessings and prosperity.
STORAGE
With a traditional Japanese paulownia wood storage box and silk ribbon tie.
A very fine and rare Kakiemon/Shoki-Nabeshima enamelled & moulded dish, c1650-80
RESERVED.
BARASET HOUSE FINE ART
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COMPARABLE EXAMPLES
An identical example exhibited at the Imaemon Museum of Antique Ceramics (Arita, Japan) October-December, 2025. The curator of this exhibition suggests that this dish was originally fired before the advent of the akae technique during the Shoho period (1644-1648), and that the iron-red and enamel decoration on the surface were later applied and fired in a muffle-kiln likely during the Enpo period. It may be possible that the body of this dish was fired at the earliest Nabeshima kiln at Iwatanigawachi in the early 1640s and the enamel decoration later added by the Kakiemon. The suggestion makes this dish an important documentary piece regarding the history between Nabeshima and Kakiemon production.
An identical pair of dishes in the collection of The Seattle Art Museum, erroneously dated to the early 18th century.
A set of five underglaze blue & white early Nabeshima lozenge-shape dishes in the Kurita Museum of Art (Japan) were made from an identical mould to the present example.
A Shoki-Nabeshima lozenge-shape dish with ruri glaze and with identical underglaze decoration on the reverse, exists in the Kyushu Ceramic Museum (Arita, Japan) and was made from an identical mould to the present example.