A PAIR OF JAPANESE ARITA INGOT-SHAPED DISHES

A PAIR OF JAPANESE ARITA INGOT-SHAPED DISHES

EDO PERIOD, 18TH OR 19TH CENTURY

Both decorated in underglaze blue, gilt, red, green and orange enamels, painted to the well with a shojo lifting a large sake cup over its head, the legendary figure surrounded by Buddhist symbols and five cranes flying above it, a border of foliate designs following the rims and with asa-no-ha patterns on the handles, the undersides with chidori (plovers) flying over crashing waves, both 17.8cm. (2)