Title
Kakiemon dish
Year/Period
late 17th century (Edo period)
Region
Japan
Material
Dimension
Gross Measurement: 5 x 23.9 x 24 cm
Accession No.
2015-00207
Collection of
The scene on this dish shows Shiba Onko, also known as Sima Guang (司馬光), the famous statesman and historian of the Song dynasty, rescuing his drowning friend by breaking the large, water-filled jar he was caught in. The tale was popular in Japan during the late 17th century. Produced in the kilns of Arita, Japan, this dish falls into the category of Kakiemon wares, characterized by simple scenes and decoration, with attention given to empty spaces, highlighting the beauty of the milk-white porcelain. Due to their popularity in the West, the designs were copied by Chinese, German, and English porcelain manufacturers.
