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
Marked with a running fuku mark in underglaze cobalt blue on reverse
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).
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.
The reverse shows a large underglaze blue Running Fuku mark and three spar marks, encircled by finely painted karakusa scrolls.