Arita Ware Monumental Lidded Jar — 6th Generation Tatebayashi Gengorō — Sometsuke Lion, Rabbit & Auspicious Motifs — 64cm Museum-Scale Masterwork

Created by the sixth-generation Tatebayashi Gengorō, this exceptional lidded jar exemplifies the highest level of Sometsuke blue-and-white ceramic artistry. With commanding height and refined surface control, the piece transcends decorative function to become a sculptural anchor of space.

Monumental Arita Ware Masterwork

This is not a decorative vessel meant to disappear quietly into a room. This is a statement object—an architectural ceramic presence—executed at a scale and level of authority rarely encountered even within serious Arita collections.

Produced by the sixth-generation Tatebayashi Gengorō, one of the most respected lineages within the Arita tradition, this monumental lidded jar represents the apex of Sometsuke blue-and-white mastery. Standing approximately 64 centimeters tall, the work belongs to a category historically reserved for elite commissions, export exhibitions, and ceremonial interiors rather than domestic display.

The surface is densely animated with a narrative procession of auspicious imagery: lions in dynamic motion, leaping rabbits, rolling waves, and layered cloud forms rendered with extraordinary spatial control. These are not flat decorative patterns. Each motif is modeled to breathe—foreground and background interlock, negative space is actively shaped, and the cobalt pigment transitions fluidly between deep saturation and feathered translucence.

What distinguishes this work is not merely scale, but restraint at scale. Large-format ceramics often sacrifice precision; here, line discipline tightens as the form expands. The curvature of the jar is used deliberately to bend motion and perspective, creating a sense of continuous rotation as the viewer moves around the piece.

The lid itself is sculpturally integrated rather than appended, maintaining proportional harmony and visual gravity. Together, jar and lid read as a unified mass—balanced, commanding, and historically grounded.

This piece should be understood as both an object of connoisseurship and a cultural artifact: a work that reflects Arita’s post-Edo revival of technical ambition, reconnecting with the export-era confidence that once placed Japanese ceramics on the world stage.

KEY FACTS
• Origin: Japan  
• Medium: Arita ware (Sometsuke blue-and-white)  
• Artist: Tatebayashi Gengorō (6th Generation)  
• Form: Lidded storage jar / display vessel  
• Height: approx. 64 cm  
• Diameter: approx. 32 cm  
• Weight: approx. 9.58 kg  
• Condition: Minor age-related wear consistent with age  

Scale, Authority, and Visual Density

Measuring approximately 64cm in height, this jar belongs to a class of works historically produced for elite interiors and exhibition contexts. The expansive surface is fully activated with auspicious imagery—lions, rabbits, waves, and clouds—executed with remarkable compositional balance.

Artist Lineage & Cultural Context

The Tatebayashi lineage stands among the most respected names in Arita ware. This sixth-generation work reflects a mature synthesis of Edo-period technique and later revival-era confidence, preserving traditional discipline while asserting monumental ambition.

Collector Relevance

Works of this scale and quality are rarely encountered on the open market. This piece is suited for advanced collectors, architectural interiors, or institutions seeking a centerpiece that communicates authority, history, and technical excellence.

Shipping & Handling

Due to size and weight, this item requires reinforced packaging and careful handling. Professional packing with layered protection will be applied to ensure safe international transit.