Large Celadon Dish (Ōzara) with Peonies

This large three-footed celadon dish was produced at the Hasami kilns around the time when domestic celadon manufacture first began in Japan. Carved with chisels (katakiribori), boldly incised peony flowers decorate the interior, while a light-colored celadon glaze covers the surface, leaving only the foot ring unglazed. The growing demand for celadon among Japan’s elite spurred output in Hizen Province, and during the 1630s and 1640s several kilns began firing celadon vessels. Outside Arita, the Hasami kilns fashioned exceptionally fine celadon wares. Their large dishes are notable for a more transparent, bluish-green hue compared with Arita pieces. Both the lustrous glaze and the three-footed form were inspired by Longquan celadon of the Chinese Ming dynasty (1368–1644).