A Chinese ’Ko-Sometsuke’ Blue and White ’Rabbit and Moon’ Dish , Tianqi (1621‑1628)
Diameter: 20.5 cm
BH90
BH90
Of circular form, freely painted in underglaze blue with a hare seated beside pierced rockwork and looking up at the moon.
Of circular form, freely painted in underglaze blue with a hare seated beside pierced rockwork and looking up at the moon.
Provenance
E. B. Allison Collection number 367Johanne Huitfeldt (1932‑2023). Curator of the Norwegian Museum of Decorative Arts and Design.
Literature
'Ko-sometsuke’, literally translated as ’old blue and white’, is a term adopted about a century ago for wares made specifically for Japanese tea-masters. The majority were made in Jingdezhen during the Tianqi period, although some pieces were probably made later in the 17th century and these are sometimes referred to as ’Shonsui’. By the early 17th century, the tea ceremony had assumed an important position in Japanese society and a substantial industry evolved making dishes for export to this flourishing market.