Japan, Edo period (1615–1868) / late 1600s–early 1700s
Dish with Ginkgo Leaves
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Dish with Ginkgo Leaves as ceramic (Japan, Edo period (1615–1868) · late 1600s–early 1700s).
The ginkgo's distinctive fan-shaped leaf is a symbol of longevity and endurance in Japanese art.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this ceramic as Porcelain with underglaze blue (Hizen ware, Nabeshima type).
The museum's collection notes: This dish is an example of the finest type of Japanese porcelain, Nabeshima-type Hizen ware. It has a complex, abstracted design of ginkgo leaves and “Chinese grasses” ( karakusa ) in underglaze blue that may be among the most interesting of the underglaze blue designs. The dish is the largest of the three standard-sized Nabeshima dishes for individual servings.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtDish with Ginkgo LeavesOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.