Large Dish (Ōzara) with Lion and Peony

This impressive, large dish exemplifies the initial phase of porcelain production in Arita. Among Arita wares, those produced from about the 1610s to the 1650s are known as Early Imari. Most are underglaze-blue porcelains, decorated in cobalt blue on a white ground. Their designs are largely based on Chinese models, rendered in a simplified manner—as in this dish’s lively, playful, and spirited interpretation of the classic motif of lions and peonies. However, we see fresh, uniquely Japanese compositions as well. The transparent glaze was usually thickly applied, and because Early Imari pieces were not bisque-fired before painting, traces of the potter’s fingers can often be seen where the piece was held.