A rare Shoki Imari circular dish
of conical form, decorated in underglaze blue with a stylised design of pine trees in a mountainous landscape; the rim depicting a band of scrolling foliage within two continuous lines, 14.5 inches diameter [37 cm.], 17th Century [some restoration]
Sold for
£8,400
inc. premium
Footnotes
- cf. Sekai Toji Zenshu/Volume 8 [Imari and Nabeshima Wares] by Takeshi Nagatake, Seizo Hayashiya and The Zauho Press, pages 12-15 for similar dishes, all dated to the 17th Century, and showing a clear relationship with the Yi Dynasty wares of Korea.
Hideyoshi's return from the Korean Campaign influenced the technical development of blue and white with the arrival of Korean potters who set to work in Karatsu, Arita and Hagi. This revolutionised the industry, allowing for the overseas trade with Holland, via Deshima Island, and for the production of the so-called Shoki Imari wares which found a ready and enthusiastic domestic market. The woodblock ehon of 1799, Sankai Meisan Zue ['Pictures of Famous Products of Mountains and Sea'], illustrates a busy ceramic production line in Arita, doubtless some of the figures in the picture were Japanese artists of Korean descent.
For other early sometsuke dishes, said to be not later than the Kanei Period [1624-1643], see also Nihon no Toji/Ko Imari/Volume 8, pages 2-11.
Category: Asian Art
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