A Chinese Wucai Square Dish for the Japanese Market (Ko-Akae)
Tianqi (1621-1627) / Late Ming Dynasty
Plat carré en porcelaine Wucai chinois pour le marché japonais (Ko-Akae)
Tianqi (1621-1627) / Période de la fin des Ming
明晚期 五彩鳳凰纹方盘
Description:
19.5 cm x 19.5 cm
The dish features a square form with indented corners, standing on a short foot. The interior is finely painted in underglaze blue and overglaze enamels, with a central square panel showcasing two phoenixes against a cash-patterned iron-red background. The surrounding side panels are adorned with floral motifs, including pine, bamboo, peony, and plum blossoms, beneath a key-fret border in iron-red along the rim. The exterior and underside are fully glazed, with the rim finished in brown. The base has a glazed recessed panel, consistent with period examples.
Condition:
The dish shows kiln flaws, including firing imperfections and slight distortions in shape, which are not uncommon in early 17th-century porcelain.
There is a burn mark (kiln adhesion) on the rim, likely from the firing process.
Some unevenness in the glaze and minor surface wear due to age.
Additional Feature:
The dish comes with a custom-fitted wooden storage box, which helps preserve its condition. The box appears to be of later origin but serves as a protective and presentational element. Despite its imperfections, this dish remains an excellent example of Ko-Akae ware, reflecting the vibrant enamel work and refined decorative motifs characteristic of the late Ming period.
Provenance & References:
An almost identical dish is in the collection of Tokyo National Museum,
Another identical dish sold at Sotheby's Echoes of Fragrance – Evolution of Tea Culture from the Tang to the Qing Dynasties | Hong Kong | 16 December 2021, Lot 5047
A related dish is illustrated by Georg Weishaupt, Chinese Porcelain of the Seventeenth Century for Japan, 47, pp. 84/5.