Preliminary identification
Photo reference
5 uploaded photos
Overview
This monumental 36 cm Japanese porcelain basin (hachi) is painted in rich underglaze cobalt blue, featuring a central medallion depicting a perched bird amidst blooming camellia and pine, framed by an exterior of scrolling foliage (karakusa). Large-scale vessels from early Edo Arita kilns were technical triumphs that required immense skill to throw and fire without collapsing.
Story
In 17th-century Japan, firing a porcelain bowl over a foot wide was a monumental technical risk. When this massive basin cracked, artisans honored its beauty with traditional repairs rather than discarding it.
Maker / Origin
Produced by master potters in the Arita region of Hizen Province, the birthplace of Japanese porcelain following the discovery of kaolin clay at Izumiyama in the early 1600s. Arita kilns supplied both the domestic elite (including samurai and tea masters) and the Dutch East India Company (VOC) with wares that revolutionized international ceramic trade.
Condition & Value
Multiple stabilized through-body fractures and hairline cracks running from rim to base with historic fill and lacquer repairs; light surface staining and kiln grit consistent with early Edo manufacture.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
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Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.