Een Japanse blauw-witte Hirado vaas met drakenreliëfdecor, een Imari dekselvaas en een schotel met floraal decor, Meiji, 19de/20ste eeuw

H 94 - 56 cm (the vases)
Dia.: 45 cm (the dish)

Hirado ware (Hirado-yaki) is a type of Japanese porcelain primarily produced at kilns in Mikawachi, Sasebo, and Nagasaki, cities located in the Kyushu region, therefore also known as Mikawachi ware (Mikawachi-yaki). It was originally made in the former feudal Hirado domain, which owned the kilns and was responsible for establishing and overseeing their production. Hirado ware is primarily recognized for its sometsuke underglaze cobalt blue and white porcelain, with the amount of blue typically being low, allowing the intricate modeling and the exceptionally fine white colour of the porcelain to be more prominent. This porcelain features a finer grain than most other Japanese porcelains, enabling the creation of fine details and delicate, intricate openwork in its forms.