Porcelain jar decorated with Kakiemon flowers and insects from the Arita kilns.

This Japanese porcelain jar is decorated with a polychrome floral motif combining chrysanthemums, foliage and stylized rocks in red, turquoise green, blue and yellow enamels on a white background. The delicate and asymmetrical composition leaves large areas of white space that highlight the motifs.

The Kakiemon style appeared around 1670 in the workshops of Arita and developed particularly during the Enpō era (1673-1680). It is characterized by elegant polychrome decorations and the use of a white glaze called “nigoshide”. The kilns of Arita, located in the former province of Hizen (Kyushu Island), were the main center of porcelain production in Japan in the 17th century. Their workshops developed different categories of porcelain, including Kakiemon productions, which were largely intended for export.

A jar with similar decoration is kept in the collections of the Musée national Adrien Dubouché in Limoges, dated around 1660-1700.

Reference : Shimizu Christine, “Japanese Porcelain”, p. 94.