Brilliant porcelain across the Pacific Ocean – Old Noritake: Beauty Bridging East & West

[Inscription] Hizen Arita Toshikian Kisabu

[Year of Manufacture and Artist’s Name] The Fukagawa Heizaimon Kiln /  Early Meiji Era

[Size] Hight 13.78” (without pedestal 11.02) x caliber 5.47” x width 9.13”

Created using colored clay, this jar features an unglazed, painted exterior with a clear glaze coating its interior surface. The rim of the mouth is patterned with a white inlay, while its hōju (wish-fulfillment) pattern is pasted on. Its pedestal is also formed of ceramic. The white inlay on the pale greenish-blue background creates a delicate yet beautiful contrast, while the clear blue color of the pasted-on hōju pattern is also singularly attractive. This jar is a masterpiece of the Fukagawa Heizaimon Kiln from the early Meiji Era.