AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS.- The Rijsmuseum presents "The Hare and the Moon - Arita Porcelain in Japan, 1620-1820," on view through January 5, 2003. Japanese porcelain is best known because of the export porcelain that was brought back to the Netherlands by the ships of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Less well known is the superb Japanese porcelain made in the same period for the domestic market. In this presentation over 200 porcelain dishes and bowls with typically Japanese motifs and forms from the Shibata collection of the Kyushu Ceramic Museum in Arita will be shown in the Netherlands for the first time.

’The Hare and the Moon. Arita porcelain in Japan’ presents a survey of the development of Arita porcelain from 1620 to 1820. One remarkable aspect is the small selection of porcelain in the Nabeshima style, named after the ruling family of feudal lords (daimyô), who governed the region where porcelain was produced. They had especially refined porcelain made which was intended as gifts for other rulers.

The exhibition also covers the various techniques and unusual forms. One of the recurring motifs is the hare and the moon. In East Asia the hare is always associated with the moon, which is where he is believed to grind the ingredients for the elixir of life with a pestle and mortar. This motif can be found at several points in the exhibition. In general, nature was a great source of inspiration for the porcelain makers. Flowers, plants and animals, such as can still be seen in the mountains of southern Japan, are depicted with great feeling. Other motifs are taken from the colourful patterns of kimono fabrics or from traditional landscape paintings in ink. The result is a rich variety of ceramics, with both spectacular designs in bright colours and sober subjects in a restrained style.