Jug

When the Ming Dynasty collapsed in mid-17th century, ruining the great Chinese kilns at Ching-Te-Chen, European traders turned to Japanese sources for export ware. For the next half century, potters in the Arita area turned out vast quantities of porcelain to European specifications.

Octagonal, with angles smoothed where planes meet; spout pinched out of rim; handle set at right angle to spout; white porcelain body glazed blue-white except at foot rim. Painted underglaze with dark grey-blue landforms from which spring floral motifs; enamelled overglaze with motif outlines in iron red and gold which is worn and dull; centred beneath spout, a circle enclosing the initial s, slightly off vertical; spout gold with red outline. Paper label reads "Marchant, London."