Plaque with design of scholar

Inoue Ryokichi · 1840-1857

Light gray clay. Underglaze cobalt painted decoration of scholar in bamboo grove gazing over water toward Mount Fuji as attendant prepares tea. Signature, "Ryokichi" [followed by illegible character], on back. Glassy white feldspathic glaze, coarsely crackled and flecked with brown iron spots, oxidizing orange where glaze is thin on base. Thirteen round spur marks on back.