This is an early type of porcelain produced in Hizen (Saga Prefecture), Arita Naigai Sarayama.
Arita Sarayama is the birthplace of porcelain in Japan, and its creation dates from the Genna Kan’ei period (1615-44). The products were shipped from the nearby port of Imari and were known as Imariyaki. This porcelain was first produced in the “Sometsuke” style, and then in the Shoho period (1644-8), Akae (red glaze) was invented.
Therefore, Ko-Imari has both types of underglaze blue and akae, but usually akae is applied on top of underglaze blue. From around the Shoho period, the red glazed ware was exported to Europe via Nagasaki, where it was welcomed and had an influence on the ceramics there. Ko-Imari was the first Japanese ceramics to be traded overseas. The Ko-Imari is what is now known as Old Japan in Europe. Ko-Imari and Iro-Nabeshima, which are also Hizen ceramics, are remarkably different in taste.
