Early 19th Century Japanese Arita Imari Landscape Bowl With Ken Mark

Details

Description

A beautiful early 19th-century Japanese Arita porcelain bowl, circa 1800–1840, decorated in underglaze cobalt blue with extensive gilt detailing and … Read more A beautiful early 19th-century Japanese Arita porcelain bowl, circa 1800–1840, decorated in underglaze cobalt blue with extensive gilt detailing and bearing a hand-painted Ken mark on the underside.

The deep, gently lobed form is decorated with an atmospheric Japanese landscape of architecture, trees and distant scenery rendered in rich cobalt blue. Extensive hand-applied gilding adds warmth and dimension to the composition, particularly along the rim and throughout the decorative details.

The underside bears a hand-painted Ken (乾) mark, a Japanese mark derived from the Chinese Qianlong reign mark and found on Arita porcelain of the late Edo period. Its presence reflects the longstanding influence and prestige of Chinese porcelain in Japanese ceramic production rather than indicating Chinese manufacture.

The bowl also retains visible firing characteristics and irregularities from traditional kiln production, including evidence on the underside that contributes to its distinctly hand-crafted antique character.

At approximately 8.5 inches in diameter, it has substantial decorative presence and displays beautifully either on a tabletop or mounted on a wall as a piece of Japanese decorative art.

A striking example of late Edo Arita production, combining finely painted cobalt landscape decoration with rich gilding and an unusually appealing lobed form.

Dimensions: approximately 8.5" diameter.

Very good antique condition with expected age-related wear to the gilding and minor firing irregularities consistent with age and traditional production. Please see photographs for details. See less