Dish
Unknown Artist
1750
Medium
White porcelain decorated with polychrome enamels (Nabeshima ware)
Dimensions
L. 9 3/4 in. (24.8 cm); W. 8 1/8 in. (20.6 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Charles Stewart Smith, 1893
Accession Number
93.3.41
Art Historical Context
This elegant dish, crafted around 1750 during Japan's Edo period (1615–1868), exemplifies the refined artistry of Nabeshima ware, a prestigious porcelain style from the kilns of Saga in Hizen province. Made from fine white porcelain and adorned with vibrant polychrome enamels—colors fired over the glaze for lasting brilliance—it measures about 9¾ by 8⅛ inches, perfect for serving delicacies in elite households. Nabeshima pieces like this were produced under strict domain patronage, often featuring intricate motifs of nature, though the exact design here highlights the ware's hallmark precision...