Nanking Aka‑e Dish with Arhat, Clouds, and Cranes Motif (Ming – Qing Dynasty)
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This fine example of Nanking Aka‑e depicts an Arhat seated in serene enlightenment, set against a pair of auspicious cranes dancing among the clouds. The composition intertwines religious reverence with worldly celebration, while the inscription “Tenka Taihei” (Peace Under Heaven) on the reverse conveys a heartfelt wish for enduring peace and prosperity across the ages. Comparable pieces can be found in the Tokyo National Museum and the Kyoto National Museum.
⇒ Cultural Heritage Online (Tokyo National Museum)
⇒ Cultural Heritage Online (Kyoto National Museum)
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- Product Code
- 251214-25
- Period
- Ming - Qing Dynasty
17th Century
- Weight
- 519 g
- Mouth Diameter
- 20.7 cm
- Height
- 2.8 cm
- Base Diameter
- 13.0 cm
- Fittings
- Paulownia Box
- Condition
- Good (with minor mushikui on the rim)
It meets the qualities of a fine piece, with a beautiful surface, ideal coloration, and an exceptional firing.
Nanking Aka-e
Nanking Aka-e refers to five-color porcelain wares fired at the Jingdezhen kiln during the late Ming to early Qing dynasties. In a narrower sense, it tends to be distinguished from Tianqi Aka-e and Iroe Shonzui, and is regarded as a distinct stylistic tradition. The name originates from the fact that Nanking was the capital of the Ming dynasty, and has come to serve as a broad, somewhat ambiguous term for color-enamel (wucai) porcelain imported from China. These works are typically coated with a translucent milky-white glaze and decorated exclusively with overglaze enamels, with minimal use of underglaze blue. Pieces produced for Europe were primarily large-scale works – jars, dishes, ewers, vases, flasks, and lidded vessels – while those made for Japan consisted mainly of tableware and tea utensils.