AN UNUSUAL JAPANESE ARITA BLUE & WHITE BOWL EDO PERIOD, C.1670-1740 The deep straight body raised on a short foot and with a flared neck, the foliate rim with a brown edge; decorated in underglaze blue with two figures observing a butterfly to the well, one holding a parasol; the sides with a flowering prunus tree and other flowers emerging from behind rockwork; the exterior with a similar design of a gnarled cherry tree to one side and stylised flowers and rocks to the reverse; the base with a fuku mark within a doubled-lined square, 11.3cm. Provenance: from the collection of David Stopher, Kent, purchased from R&G McPherson Antiques, London. Formerly in the J Johnston Collection, no.701, and the J Drew Collection, no.216. Cf. S Jenyns, Japanese Porcelain, pl.73D for a barbed rim dish with similar decoration.