Porcelain Bowl

[Nihonto Chicken]

Might anyone identify the maker of this bowl and indicate what it might be used for and the theme or significance of all the kanji?  There is also a small saucer with the same graphics but no kanji.  I estimate approximately seven hundred characters on the bowl, done by hand or are they a transfer?

 

 

[Robert Mormile]

Hi Rick:

 

This is 20^th century Kutani-yaki porcelain.  The title is 三十古歌仙 (Sanjyu Kokasen) which means 30 top poets / songwriters.  Kaga in northwestern Japan is home to this type of porcelain. 

 

Thanks for sharing.

Robert

[SteveM]

Looks like the type of thing that would be used in tea-ceremony. The big bowl would be for tea (matcha) and the small plate would be to hold sweets. 

[Robert Mormile]

Rick:

 

Oops.  I took 三十六歌仙 for 三十古歌仙 so Sanjyuroku Kasen or 36 top poets / songwriters.

(Must have been the Jamison talking...)

.

Here is a complete listing:

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%89%E5%8D%81%E5%85%AD%E6%AD%8C%E4%BB%99

 

Steve:

For the most part this stuff was mass produced for the Western market. That small plate has an indentation for a cup in the center which makes it a saucer to a demitasse set.  My guess is that the bowel is too large to be a chawan, just decorative.

 

Thank you.

Robert
 

[Nihonto Chicken]

Thank you both for your feedback, very informative. If made in the 20th century for export, I imagine the kanji must be from a transfer, still overall a pretty decorative bowl. Thanks again!