Japanese porcelain barber’s bowl, c. 1700.
 
Dimensions: Approximately 10⅜” diameter.
 
Decoration:
The border is decorated with four panels depicting stylized birds separated by four smaller blue panels with chrysanthemums. 
 
There are two holes in the rim intended for a cord for hanging.
 
The center is decorated with a traditional design of a flower basket (“hanakago-de”).
 
The reverse is undecorated with floral sprays, and three blue lines encircle the foot. 
 
The base is unmarked.
 
This palette is known as five-color Imari, underglaze blue with some combination of red, green, purple, light blue, flesh, brown, black, or yellow enamels, and gilding.
 
References:
Gansu Provincial Museum ed., in “Imari, Japanese Porcelain of the Edo Period Exported to Europe”.
Impey, “Japanese Export Porcelain”.
Jorg, “Fine & Curious, Japanese Export Porcelain in Dutch Collections”.
P.L.J. Arts, “Japanese Porcelain”.
Reichel, “Early Japanese Porcelain”.
Shimura, “The History of Imari, The Symbols and Mysteries of Antique Japanese Porcelain”.
New Orleans Museum of Art, “Imari, Japanese Porcelain for European Palaces”.
The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, “Complete Catalog of Shibata Collection”.
 
Condition: In excellent condition consistent with age and usage. Please examine the photos; they are part of the description.