A large blue and white bowl with floral decoration.
Japan, Arita, Edo period, c. 1660-1680.
The large bowl with a bulbous body, spreading sides and everted rim, almost of klapmuts shape, decorated in underglaze blue with large flowering chrysanthemums (菊 kiku) with leaves, the rim with a band of foliate (唐草 karakusa) scrolls, the inside decorated with a pot from which chrysanthemum flowers emerge, set against the background of a fenced garden courtyard. The outer rim has a deep cobalt border (almost of a black tone), fluxing inwards. The bowl is supported on a high footring, the base with a circle in underglaze blue, around the outside of the foot with a triple blue line.
Although some types of chrysanthemum begin flowering in the summer, the chrysanthemum is primarily an indication of autumn. Like many autumn motifs, the chrysanthemum evokes feelings of melancholy in Japan.
The flowerpot (花盆 kabon) motif was used on the first Japanese export porcelain in the mid-17th century and is derived from Chinese Kraak porcelain.
Ref:
A blue and white shaving bowl with an exact similar decoration of a flowerpot with chrysanthemum and of the same style, dated by the author to the Kanbun period (1661-1673) is in the Groninger Museum collection and published in: A Survey of Japanese Ceramics (Maria Penkala, 1980), p. 188.
A large blue and white bowl of the same shape is in the collection of August the Strong, Dresden, SKD Museum, registration no. PO 954
For other large blue and white bowls of the same shape, see: Porcelain for Palaces (John Ayers, Oliver Impey and J.V.G. Mallet, 1990), p. 100, pl. 44 and p. 109, pl. 59
Dimensions:
Diameter 32 cm, height 12.8 cm.
Condition:
Very good condition, without damages.
Inv. No: MW99
