Left — Large dish of late-period piece of Polychromatic Kaga Ware. Many highly decorated pieces with the Kutani mark have been collected by enthusiasts both locally and internationally. These pieces differ in some ways from what was originally thought to be the style used by Kaga artists. The design and arrangement of the decorative elements are unmistakably Japanese, and more representative of traditional art than the typical red and gold works. The colours are vibrant and applied thickly, creating a raised effect in the decoration, especially with the white enamel, where the artist has skilfully enhanced the relief. The body, a dull grey, seems to be stoneware with a thin, glossy finish, and the entire decoration is applied over the glaze. The ornamentation features an irregular medallion with fighting cocks and bold floral patterns, as well as border designs in diaper work, all of which are typical of Japanese art and reflect the free, expressive style of Japanese artists. Diameter: 16 inches.
Right — This large dish of ancient Kaga Ware is fairly crude in manufacture, decorated with archaic figures and conventional ornaments in dull red. It’s an interesting piece, being a well-preserved and important example of the oldest Kaga ware known. It was clearly made long before gilding was introduced on pottery, and well before the Kutani artists perfected the techniques seen in their later, more refined works. This piece is clearly many centuries old. Diameter: 17 inches.