Preliminary identification
Photo reference
5 uploaded photos
Overview
An exquisite Edo-period lobed porcelain dish decorated in the classic Kakiemon palette, featuring a narrative scene of figures boating beneath a flowering cherry tree. The rim is framed with a delicate geometric diaper border interspersed with floral cartouches, while the reverse displays a beautifully painted scrolling karakusa vine.
Story
Crafted in late 17th-century Japan, this dish captures a peaceful moment of leisure on the water. During the Edo period, such refined porcelain was highly coveted by both Japanese elites and European royalty, who prized its milky-white body and vibrant enamels. This piece represents a peak of artistic exchange between East and West.
Maker / Origin
The Kakiemon kiln, founded by Sakaida Kakiemon in the mid-17th century, revolutionized Japanese ceramics by mastering the art of overglaze polychrome enameling. Famous for the 'nigoshide' milky-white body and asymmetrical compositions, Kakiemon designs became so popular in Europe that they were widely copied by Meissen and Chelsea.
Condition & Value
The dish appears to be in excellent antique condition with vibrant enamels and minimal wear to the surface. The accompanying old wooden storage box (jidai-bako) has helped preserve the piece for centuries. Any minor firing flaws or tiny rim chips are typical of Edo-period production and do not significantly detract from its value.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
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.