Page 54 - Sotheby's May 14, 2019 Fine Japanese Art. London

PROPERTY OF A COLLECTOR

LOTS 64–71

“Ko-Kutani” – a group of large enameled started from the late 1640s, followed by
porcelain dishes with powerful designs – gosaide (decorating motifs with thick
has long been considered to be produced enamel colours apart from red on rough
in Kutani kiln, in Ishikawa Prefecture. porcelain body) and aode (filling entire
However, there has been a continued surface of porcelain with thick enamel
controversy over where “Ko-Kutani” was colours apart from red) from the early
actually produced since a hypothesis 1650s.
predicting its actual production site in The dish with chrysanthemum seems
Arita, in Saga Prefecture of Hizen region, to be made in the early 1650s in Yanbeta
was proposed. Excavations carried out kiln by observing the characteristics of
between 2013 – 2015 unearthed a kiln its back pattern and mark.
that glazed the enamel in Yanbeta Ruins The delicate karakusa pattern on the
adjacent to a noborigama in Yanbeta, back of the dish with gourds (Lot 65), by
Arita. The survey has proven that the contrast, cannot be found in Yanbeta kiln.
body of “Ko-Kutani” was fired in Yanbeta It is conjectured that this dish was creat-
kiln and it was after enamelled in the ed around the late 1650s in Akae-machi,
adjoining site. In Yanbeta, enameling where Saga clan gathered Akae artisans.

Professor Ohashi Koji, Director Emeritus,
Kyushu Ceramic Museum

64
THE PROPERTY OF A COLLECTOR
A FINE KO-KUTANI DISH
FUKU MARK, EDO PERIOD, CIRCA
1650
古九谷 色絵大皿、福印、江戸時代、1650—
60年頃
the deep dish with a broad rim decorated in
yellow, aubergine, green and black enamels
with birds flying above chrysanthemums and
grasses among rockwork, the broad rim with
further larger chrysanthemum leaves, the
reverse with scrolling karakusa, Fuku mark
34.5cm., 13½ in. diam
‡ £ 100,000-150,000
€ 118,000-177,000 US$ 133,000-199,000

Reverse

52 Buyers are liable to pay both the hammer price (as estimated above) and the buyer’s premium together with any applicable taxes and Artist’s Resale Right (which will depend on the individual circumstanc-
es). Refer to the Buying at Auction and VAT sections at the back of this catalogue for further information.