Preliminary identification
Photo reference
5 uploaded photos
Overview
A rare early Japanese porcelain shallow basin or charger (shoki-Imari) painted in cobalt underglaze blue with a stylized crane (*tsuru*), auspicious pine sprigs, bamboo, and butterflies within a scrolled border. The reverse reveals a broad unglazed foot ring and typical early Hizen potting hallmarks, matching rare museum reference types such as those held at the Toguri Museum of Art.
Story
Around the 1630s, Japanese potters in Hizen mastered high-fired porcelain, painting sparse, poetic symbols of longevity on raw, greyish-white clay. Surviving large dishes from this pioneering era are exceptionally treasured survivors.
Maker / Origin
Produced by early anonymous kiln masters in the Arita district of the Nabeshima domain, working soon after the discovery of local kaolin clay at Izumiyama. These early artisans blended Korean potting traditions with native Japanese painterly aesthetics to forge Japan's very first domestic porcelain industry.
Condition & Value
Displays characteristic kiln iron spots, light glaze unevenness, and rim discolouration consistent with 17th-century firing; close-up images reveal what appears to be a faint hairline crack running through the rim. Presence of a hairline structurally intact reduces potential top-tier auction value by approximately 30–50%.
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.