Japanese Kakiemon-Style Polychrome Porcelain Lobed Dish

Story

Seventeenth-century Arita potters perfected a milky white glaze called 'nigoshide' to make translucent enamels pop. This composition uses asymmetrical white space to evoke the poetic solitude of a wandering scholar.

Maker / Origin

Pioneered by Sakaida Kakiemon in the mid-17th century, this distinct style revolutionized porcelain decoration by embracing airy, pictorial asymmetry and delicate iron-red, turquoise, and soft blue enamels. The style became so prized globally that European factories like Meissen, Chantilly, and Chelsea spent decades attempting to copy it.

Condition & Value

Appears in very good antique condition with bright enamels, no apparent large rim chips or restorations visible, and minor firing specks (iron spots) inherent to early kiln firings. Intact condition preserves value well. Value is driven by age, potting quality, and glaze purity.