A FINE LARGE ARITA BLUE AND WHITE CHARGER, the central roundel containing the letters VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie) surrounded by a ho-o bird perched among flowers and foliage, the rim with six shaped rectangular panels alternately containing the shochikubai and peony flower sprays divided by narrow bands of stylised flowerheads and foliage, late 17th Century

Details
A FINE LARGE ARITA BLUE AND WHITE CHARGER, the central roundel containing the letters VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie) surrounded by a ho-o bird perched among flowers and foliage, the rim with six shaped rectangular panels alternately containing the shochikubai and peony flower sprays divided by narrow bands of stylised flowerheads and foliage, late 17th Century
36.2cm. diam.

Lot Essay

cf. Soame Jenyns' example in the Victoria and Albert Museum, pl. 14b

Soame Jenyns discussed that the V.O.C. dishes may have come from the Sarugawa kiln, although recent excavations have found sherds at three different sites in Arita. No wasters were found among the sherds of the Chokichi-dani kiln which is known to have ended production around the early 1680's. This perhaps suggests as mentioned by Koji Ohashi that the dishes were produced between the mid 1680's and early 18th Century. It is more probable that their production was from the 1660's onwards.

The design of the dishes show clear differences from the original Kraak porcelain. The wider panels without the use of auspicious symbols, and the depiction of ho-o birds with their fanned out tails.

More from Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Art

View All
View All