Ming Dynasty Kosometsuke Ware Porcelain Bowl

Late Ming Dynasty, Tianqi Period (1620–1627), Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, China

This exquisite blue and white porcelain bowl, crafted in the renowned kilns of Jingdezhen, represents the Kosometsuke (古染付) tradition, a style of underglaze blue porcelain made exclusively for the Japanese market during the reign of Emperor Tianqi (1621–1628). Intended for use in the Japanese tea ceremony, this piece exemplifies the asymmetrical, expressive, and often whimsical designs that distinguished Ko-Sometsuke ware from the more refined Imperial Ming porcelain.

Unlike the flawless blue and white porcelain produced for the Chinese court, Kosometsuke ware was deliberately rustic. It was roughly potted using coarse, unrefined clay, which resulted in visible imperfections such as kiln grit, glaze contractions, and irregular firing spots. The "moth-eaten" (mushikui) edges, a signature feature of Kosometsuke, were particularly valued by Japanese tea masters, who admired the wabi-sabi aesthetic—the beauty of imperfection and transience.

This small-sized bowl is freely painted in underglaze cobalt blue, featuring a charming, spontaneous composition of two birds perched on a flowering twig with small, round buds. The brushwork is loose and expressive, applied in a single fluid motion with a fully loaded brush, capturing a sense of natural movement. The interior is framed with thin sketchy bands, while the exterior features two hastily drawn circular motifs, reinforcing the spontaneous, unpretentious charm that made Kosometsuke ware so beloved in Japan.

Kosometsuke porcelain remains highly prized among collectors for its unique character, historical significance, and deep cultural connections to the Japanese tea ceremony. This bowl, with its delightful imperfections and expressive artistry, embodies the harmonious blend of Chinese craftsmanship and Japanese aesthetics, making it an exceptional addition to any collection of Ming porcelain or tea ceremony artifacts.

Good condition. Small hairline fracture. Considerable fritting and glazing flaws. Kiln grit on the footrim. Size approx. 14,9cm x 14,8cm x 4,9cm.

Provenance: Finnish private collection

References and further reading:

Ko-sometsuke: Chinese Porcelain for the Japanese Market, Jorge Welsh, Published by Jorge Welsh Books, Lisbon/London, 2013.

Kosometsuke, Masahiko Kawahara, Published by Kyoto Shoin Co., Ltd, Japan, 1977.

The Wares of the Transitional Period between the Ming and the Ch'Ing 1620-1683, Soame Jenyns, Archives of the Chinese Art Society of America, Published By: Duke University Press, Vol. 9, 1955, pp. 20-42.

The Ceramic Trade Across the South China Sea c. AD 1350-1650, Barbara Harrisson, Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. 76, No. 1, 2003, pp. 99-114.