OCTAGONAL DISH, Kotō ware, with underglaze blue floral scroll design, Edo Period（1603–1867CE）

Octagonal footed dish of Koto ware, decorated in underglaze blue with a floral arabesque design, Edo period.

An elegant shallow dish with chamfered octagonal sides and four corner feet. In the well a graceful floral-scroll design is rendered in underglaze blue; leaves and tendrils spread gently outward to encircle a large central blossom. Though areas of reserved ground remain, the brushwork is finely expressive, and the tonal variations of the underglaze impart a sense of depth to the surface.

Around the rim, motifs are set in small framed panels, alternating fish, floral, and geometric designs. The inner floral arabesque and the compartmentalized patterning of the outer edge echo one another, so that the well-ordered composition nonetheless conveys a hint of exotic splendor.

Kotō ware is a type of Ōmi porcelain produced under the Hikone domain during the late Edo period. While influenced by Imari and Chinese underglaze-blue wares, it is distinguished by a pure white body and a clear, limpid underglaze blue. This example likewise presents a strongly white porcelain body, against which finely rendered cobalt-blue motifs with pronounced gradations stand out, conveying the restrained dignity characteristic of Kotō ware.

The underside is also painted in underglaze blue with floral and geometric motifs, and the footed form is finished with graceful refinement. It may be displayed on a shelf or in an alcove, and can also be enjoyed as a dish for confections or as part of a coordinated set of tableware.

The surface shows expected signs of age: light wear, small scratches, iron specks, and variations in the glaze. There is minor wear to the rim and foot, but overall the piece retains the composed, refined appearance characteristic of underglaze-blue Kotō ware dishes.