Preliminary identification
Photo reference
4 uploaded photos
Overview
An exceptional Japanese Ko-Imari porcelain dish featuring a dynamic underglaze cobalt blue (sometsuke) depiction of a dragon emerging from swirling auspicious clouds. Measuring 19.2 cm in diameter, the dish exhibits a brilliant milky-white glaze, fine brushwork, and a sophisticated composition that leaves dramatic negative space across the center.
Story
Edo-period Arita artisans painted dragons not as fearsome monsters, but as sacred water spirits capable of summoning life-giving rain. This dish uses dramatic asymmetric composition, letting the dragon emerge from swirling clouds at the rim to command the empty white space.
Maker / Origin
Crafted in the famed kilns of Arita, the cradle of Japanese porcelain production since the early 17th century. Kiln masters in Hizen Province perfected underglaze cobalt painting, balancing Chinese iconographic influences with a uniquely restrained, spatial Japanese aesthetic.
Condition & Value
Appears in good vintage condition with minor surface wear and small firing flaws/staining appropriate for age on the underside rim. Fine glaze gloss remains strong without visible cracks or restored chips. Excellent overall preservation supports value.
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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.