Preliminary identification
Photo reference
5 uploaded photos
Overview
This is a monumental Japanese blue-and-white porcelain basin (*sometsuke ōbachi*) executed with exceptional painterly skill. The exterior is decorated with a continuous narrative scene of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove (*Chikurin Shichiken*), while the interior showcases panoramic landscapes and a scholar's table central medallion.
Story
Born from the legendary Fukami ceramic dynasty in Arita, this impressive basin captures Chinese Daoist sages escaping court intrigue to revel in a bamboo grove—a timeless symbol of intellectual freedom in Edo-period Japan.
Maker / Origin
The Fukami (深海) lineage traces back to Fukami Sōden and Hyakubasen, Korean potters instrumental in founding Japanese porcelain in Arita in the early 17th century. During the Bakumatsu and Meiji transition, masters like Fukami Heizaemon and Fukami Suminosuke pushed Arita sometsuke to world-class heights, eventually co-founding the famed Koransha company in 1875.
Condition & Value
Appears to be in very good antique condition with rich cobalt saturation, clean glaze, and no major chips or cracks visible in photographs. Minor expected kiln grit and shelf wear to the unglazed footring. Excellent preservation commands the higher end of the value range.
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.