Antique Japanese Kutani delicate porcelain jar, Edo period The porcelain is thin and the light can shine through (penetrate) through the walls. Height with lid: 6.5 inches = 17 cm Diameter: 6 inches = 14.5 cm; Weight of the lid: 84.16 g; Weight with lid: 1 lb. 5 oz. = 595 g; Condition: antique, but no defects Provenance: private collection in Clearwater, Florida, USA. Ko-Kutani The term kutani means "Nine Valleys". The first mention was in 1655 during the Meireki era. According to tradition, clays suitable for porcelain making were found in the Kutani mines of the Daishōji clan, a cadet branch of the Maida clan who ruled Daishōji Domain. Gotō Saijirō, a member of the Maeda clan, was sent by orders of Maeda Toshiharu, daimyō of Kaga Domain to Arita in Hizen Province to learn how to make porcelain.[6] He set up a kiln in the village of Kutani.[3] The daimyō of Kaga Domain became great patrons of Kutani. Porcelains from this early period are specifically called old Kutani (古九谷, ko-Kutani) and are very rare.[1][4] Saikō-Kutani Saikō-Kutani style porcelain sweets tray with underglaze flower and leaves decoration and overglaze enamels, c. 1825, late Edo period. Saikō-Kutani porcelain plate depicting Li Bo riding a carp, 19th century, Edo period Iidaya style plate. In 1804, or possibly 1807, production was re-established with the help of several kamamoto, or production potters.[6][14] New overglaze painting techniques from various kamamoto were infused in the development of what became known as revived Kutani (再興九谷, Saikō-Kutani). In the 19th century the style shifted to a more red design called aka-e (赤絵), which features intricate designs.[15] The gold technique is called kinran-de (金襴手), and the combination became aka-e kinran-de (赤絵 金襴手) Kutani.[14][16]