A JAPANESE ARITA BLUE AND WHITE DISH

A JAPANESE ARITA BLUE AND WHITE DISH

EDO PERIOD, C.1700

With a scalloped rim, the well decorated in underglaze blue with a foliate cartouche enclosing figures in a mountainous river landscape, with fishermen on sampans in the foreground, a tall building towering behind them and a further figure with an attendant holding an umbrella to the left, with spiralling clouds above; the rim with a border of flowerheads amongst scrolling tendrils and painted with a brown edge; the underside with karakusa scrolls and flowers, the base with a fuku mark, 20.6cm.

Provenance: from an English private collection, London.

Cf. E Ströber, La Maladie de Porcelaine, pp.158-9, no.70, where a comparable dish from the collection of Augustus the Strong is illustrated and discussed. The author points out that the figures depicted are Chinese, whilst the scrolling clouds and lake appear to be inspired by Western models. Also, see C J A Jörg, Fine & Curious, Japanese Export Porcelain in Dutch Collection, p.150, no.168, for another example, one of three of various sizes at Twickel Castle, Delden. These dishes are also sometimes referred to as in Van Frytom style after the Dutch Delftware originals.