Peach-shaped Ko-sometsuke mukozuke dish

In ancient China, there was a legend that in the Peach Garden in Mount Kunlun, where the goddess Queen Mother of the West lives, there is a fairy peach that grows only once every few thousand years, and that eating it would grant immortality.

From there, peaches came to be considered a mystical fruit symbolizing longevity, and have been used as a subject for many arts and crafts.

This piece is a mukozuke dish shaped like a peach.

The painting depicts a peach tree, a mystical tree, laden with fruit, and a bird perched on top of the tree, ready to peck at a peach.

Whether he knows or not that the fruit grants immortality, it looks as if he is evaluating which fruit to eat.

Kosometsuke ware is pottery made in Jingdezhen, China, by private kilns, and was produced to order by Japanese tea masters. As a result, many of the designs are outlandish and the painting style is free and unrestrained, and each piece has its own unique appeal.

Even the same peach-shaped mukozuke can be seen in many variations, such as landscape designs or monkeys, but the little bird is quite adorable. The design of this one bird makes you feel the passage of time and a story.

The color of the blue and white porcelain and the white base are both very good, making this a superior piece.

The back also clearly shows the shape of a peach, and it is shaped so that it can stand on its own on three legs.

The edges show some areas of peeling glaze, known as "mushikui" (insect bites), which is unique to old blue and white porcelain.

Tea masters are said to have appreciated this insect damage as one of the highlights of the piece. Strangely enough, too little insect damage can make it seem lonely, while too much can make it seem unsophisticated. This piece has a moderate amount of insect damage, yet remains in good condition.

Although it seems like there are many excellent examples of antique blue and white porcelain pieces that have been passed down as a single piece, they are not easy to find. This is a recommended item for those who want to start with a single piece, or for those who want to assemble a set of mukozuke.

[Responsible for: Mao Otsuka]