Large Ko-Imari Blue and White 'Iris and Zigzag Bridge' Charger

Story

In Edo-period Japan, affluent patrons commissioned large chargers celebrating scenes from classical literature like *The Tales of Ise*. The central motif of irises and a zig-zag plank bridge references a famous courtly poem about longing for home. At 40 centimeters across, firing a porcelain vessel of this magnitude without warping was a triumph of ceramic engineering.

Maker / Origin

Crafted in the famed kilns of Arita, the birthplace of Japanese porcelain. Potters in the Hizen region refined cobalt underglaze techniques brought by Korean craftsmen in the early 1600s, creating a world-renowned tradition that supplied both the Shogun's court and European nobility.

Condition & Value

Appears structurally sound in photos with vibrant cobalt underglaze. Kiln spur marks and light surface wear consistent with authentic Edo-period manufacture; minor glaze imperfections affect value minimally.