Dish with Chrysanthemums and Marigolds

In the Edo period, the chrysanthemum was one of the most popular motifs for porcelains exported to Europe. This dish shows that the chrysanthemum pattern applied well to colored porcelains after the Japanese learned the technique of firing wares at a high temperature. Four kinds of large chrysanthemum patterns are represented here. Tiny marigolds or wild chrysanthemums are spread across the entire dish. Gold, called kinrantei, was painted onto the 16-layered chrysanthemums, and red and blue onto the others. Red outlines strengthen the decorative beauty while gold outlines adorn the large chrysanthemum.