Ko-Imari, Arita kiln, c.1670-1690
 
A Previously Unrecorded blue and white Ko-Imari dish superbly and boldly painted with two large clams and seaweeds
Arita kiln
circa 1670-1690
 
Measuring 23.8 cm in diameter 
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Marked with a running fuku mark in underglaze cobalt blue on reverse 
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A very finely potted lobed dish painted in rich cobalt tones with a pair of large clams (hamaguri) and seaweeds (kaisou). 
 
This dish - decorated strongly and boldly in the Japanese taste - was certainly made for the home market, and not for export to Europe through the V.O.C. (Dutch East India Company).
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The famous Shibata collection at the Kyushu Museum shows several late 17th century Arita-kiln dishes depicting clam, marine algae and seaweeds, however the present dish with it's striking pair of clams shells - most likely representative of fidelity and marriage - appears to be unrecorded.
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The reverse shows a large underglaze blue Running Fuku mark and three spar marks, encircled by finely painted karakusa scrolls.