Chinese late Ming ko-sometsuke bowl, Tianqi

An attractive Chinese shallow bowl with sunken foot made for the Japanese market (ko-sometsuke), decorated in underglaze blue of a deep indigo colour, and dating from the late Ming period.  The centre of the bowl is decorated with four horses, with a band of peaches and butterflies around the rim.  The reverse has two swiftly painted sprays beneath the rim. Diameter 14cm (5.5”)

Dating: Tianqi c1625

Condition:

Very good condition. There is some heavy glaze fritting around the rim (known to the Japanese as mushikui, or ‘moth eaten’ rim).