Examples of Objects on Display

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  LARGE DISH, Porcelain with tree design in overglaze enamels (aode style)

  Edo period, mid-17th century
  Ko-Kutani style
  h: 5.5 cm, d: 37.2 cm
  Mr. and Mrs. Fukui Collection

  The distinctive decoration in overglaze enamels of green and a few other colors covering the entire surface of the dish is known as aode (‘blue-green style’). The center of the dish has a dynamically depicted tree on a yellow ground with wave pattern. The thin black outline and the ground pattern effectively enhance the charm of the bold composition of the motif and the striking color combination. There is also a 45-diameter dish with the same decoration, implying the high demand of large dishes with eye-catching designs at that time.

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  SQUARE DISH, Porcelain with bird design in overglaze enamels

  Edo period, mid-17th century
  Ko-Kutani style
  h: 2.8cm, w: 19.7 cm×19.7 cm
  Mr. and Mrs. Fukui Collection

  A press mold was used to make the square form. The center of the interior shows a crane-like bird looking back while flying and a trailing cloud, leaving ample white space. They are combined with a motif of reed-like floral plants at the lower right corner, delivering a unique sense of energy as well as lyricism. The decorative borders in purple, green and yellow produce a picture frame-like effect. The foot was made separately and applied to the base, the interior of which bears an inscription of a Japanese kanji character fuku (‘good fortune’) enclosed in a square.

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  DISH, Porcelain with swallow and willow design in overglaze enamels

  Edo period, mid-17th century
  Ko-Kutani style
  h: 2.0 cm, d: 14.2 cm
  Mr. and Mrs. Fukui Collection

  The decoration of this dish depicts a swallow perching on a thin, drooping branch of a willow tree, outlined in black enamel and painted in overglaze colorful enamels including blue, green and red. The azure glaze band on the mouth rim delivers a refreshing atmosphere of a waterside from spring through summer. As both terms “swallow” and “banquet” in Chinese are pronounced yan, swallow is considered auspicious and a combination of a swallow and a willow tree like this work was a favored subject. While a common motif, the swallow is vividly depicted, charmingly looking up as it sways in the wind along with the willow branch.

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  LOBED DISH, Porcelain with horned owl design in overglaze enamels

  Edo period, mid-17th century
  Ko-Kutani style
  h: 1.9 cm, d: 13.8 cm
  Mr. and Mrs. Fukui Collection

  The center of this work shows a horned owl and willow branches bending with the wind. While horned owls had often been adopted as motifs on ancient Chinese bronze vessels or Japanese printed books published in the Edo period (1603–1867), a painted decoration of a horned owl on a ceramic vessel is relatively rare. As it is known that motifs on Ko-Kutani ware were adopted from gafu or picture albums of designs and patterns, the decoration on this work may also have been one of those examples. The press molded form after being wheel-thrown, the iron brown-coated mouth rim, and the foot ring with a wide diameter suggest the influence from Chinese porcelain production techniques