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A finely potted mid 17th century Early Enamelled (iroe) Arita Ko-Kutani type non-biscuit (namagake) porcelain dish depicting a sandy shoreline with a hut amongst rocks and willows, sailing ships in the distance
 
Arita kiln, Early Enamelled ware, Ko Kutani type or an early enamellers workshop, Hizen province, Japan
early Edo period (mid 17th century)
circa 1650-60
 
Decorated in a vibrant palette of aubergine, rich emerald green, dark yellow and opaque red with black outling, with an exceptionally pleasing and calming use of blank space, epitomizing the Japanese Beauty of Emptiness (yohaku no bi). The reverse undecorated.
 
The coloured palette is traditionally associated with the early enamelled wares of the town of Kutani. Though it was previously thought that this type of Japanese porcelain was made at the Old Kutani kilns in Enuma County, it is now accepted that this thinly potted circular dish was made in the middle of the 17th century in the Arita kilns. We can now call this type of early Japanese porcelain "Arita porcelain of Ko-Kutani type".
 
With a Japanese paulownia wood storage box bearing the inscription 'Early Edo Period' and ribbon tie.
 
Measurements
14.6 cm diameter, 2.3 cm high
 
Condition
In excellent original condition with no damages or restoration. A tiny original potters notch in the rim at 11 o'clock which was overglazed in the firing.