196 - † A MASSIVE (44 CM) AND EXCEPTIONALLY RARE MISHIMA-STYLE TAKEO KARATSU CHARGER

† A MASSIVE (44 CM) AND EXCEPTIONALLY RARE MISHIMA-STYLE TAKEO KARATSU CHARGER Japan, Hizen Province, Takeo kilns, c. 1620–1650, early Edo period (1615-1868) Skillfully potted, the broad, shallow bowl supported on a short, tapered foot, the gently rounded sides rising to an exceptionally wide, flaring rim. The interior elaborately decorated with finely impressed and incised designs inlaid with creamy-white slip beneath a transparent glaze, contrasting beautifully with the warm, dark brown stoneware body. The central well, displaying irregular dark firing marks, is encircled by concentric registers of stylized chrysanthemum blossoms, undulating lines, scrolling foliage, intricate geometric key-fret patterns, and further delicate floral motifs extending to the rim. The decoration is executed with remarkable precision and rhythmic regularity, reflecting the distinctive aesthetic of early Korean-inspired Mishima ware. The glaze attractively pooling across the exterior. Inscriptions: Three seals, one reading ‘Bright Spring Myself Alone’. HEIGHT 10.7 cm, DIAMETER 44.4 cm Condition: Good condition with expected wear and firing irregularities, slight warping, fine hairline cracks, and a small chip to the rim with an old and carefully executed kintsugi repair. With an old wood tomobako (storage box), the reverse of the cover bearing a lengthy handwritten note dated spring Meiji 8 (1875), the Year of the Wood Pig, signed by the monk Unge. The inscription historically identifies the charger as Gyeryongsan (Keiryuzan) ware of early Joseon Korea, discussing its connections with Buddhist temples and relating a tradition of ceramic production by warrior monks in the region. The present charger belongs to a rare group of early Takeo Karatsu wares reviving the elaborate stamped and white-slip-inlaid decoration of Korean buncheong stoneware, produced during the early Joseon dynasty (1392–1910) and known in Japan as Mishima. Following the introduction of Korean ceramic traditions to Hizen, the Takeo kilns began producing their own interpretations of these earlier wares around the 1610s, combining Korean-derived techniques and ornamental motifs with distinctly Japanese forms. Particularly remarkable is the monumental scale of the present charger, measuring 44.4 cm in diameter. While Mishima decoration is frequently encountered on smaller tea bowls and dishes, such exceptionally large early Takeo Karatsu chargers are considerably rarer. A closely related example measuring 49.6 cm, preserved in the Nakashima Hiroshi Collection and designated an Important Cultural Property of Takeo City, attests to the historical significance of this unusual large-scale production. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related large Mishima-style Takeo Karatsu dish with inlaid and stamped decoration depicting cranes and chrysanthemums, dated to the first half of the 17th century, measuring 49.6 cm in diameter, in the Nakashima Hiroshi Collection, designated an Important Cultural Property of Takeo City, illustrated in Soyoung Lee and Jeon Seung-chang, Korean Buncheong Ceramics from Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 2011, p. 108, fig. 3.8. 13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium - only for buyers within the EU.