A finely moulded Ai-Kutani dish in the form of a cloud superbly painted with three herons wading in a stream beneath a weeping willow & cloudy sky
 
Ai-Kutani type, Arita ware, Hizen province, Japan
Edo Period (17th century), Enpō period
circa 1670-80
 
The finely shaped porcelain body of lobed cloud form superbly painted in underglaze cobalt blue with a scene of three white herons wading in a stream, a weeping willow and stylized clouds above, lapping waves below with large stylized snowflakes to the foreground.
 
The reverse with a very tall, elegantly shaped footrim encircled by a single blue line, flanked by scrolling stylized arabesques with a central cherry blossom . A single spur mark on the base where the dish rested on its sagger in the kiln.
 
Measurements:
7.25 inches in length (18.0 cm);  5.25 inches in width (13.5 cm); 1.5 inches in height (3.7 cm).
 
Condition report:
A very attractive example in excellent original condition, with only very minor glaze retreats to the front left side exposing small areas of the body which occured in the original firing.