Sold Ceramics - Sold Japanese Imari 1690-1800 - Other wares - Page 1

Object 2012383

Small bowl

Japan

c.1700

Height 56 mm (2.20 inch), diameter of rim 95 mm (3.74 inch), diameter of footring 41 mm (1.61 inch), weight 105 grams (3.70 ounce (oz.))

Small bowl on footring, spreading sides with an everted rim. Imari decorated in underglaze blue, iron-red, green, yellow, gray black enamel and gold with a flowering prunus and chrysanthemum spray between iris and flowering wisteria plants four peony flower sprays. On the bottom a flower spray in a double concentric band in underglaze blue. Round the inner and outer rim a double concentric band in underglaze blue. Round the foot an upturned pointed leaves-pattern border in iron-red. Marked on the base with the Chinese four character mark featuring zhi 'Da Ming nian zhi', made during the Great Ming Dynasty. (Davison 1994, cat. 852)

The absence of underglaze blue, may or may not follow kiln practice. Evidence from potsherds at kiln-sites does not suggest that some kilns made either the one or the other, rather that all kilns seem to have made both. On the other hand, there is a tendency in most examples for those pieces without underglaze blue to be more finely decorated and to bear more refined enamels; this may mean that they were emulating the Kakiemon, and therefore it seems more likely that this would have been the practice of some kilns and not others. (Impey 2002, p.191)

The Chinese marks only showing the dynasty (Ming) but not the name of the reign (e.g. Wanli) is not often seen (normally the Emperor’s reign is more significant). However they were found among the provincial wares for during few eras, such as Zhengde, Wanli, Tianqi, and Chongzhen. I think it is possible that they meant to avoid offending the government by not quoting the name of Emperor on commercial ware. (I am indebted to Mr. S. Fan for this information)

For other similarly decorated objects please see:

• Sold Ceramics - Sold Japanese Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares 18th Century - Page 1 - Object 2011387.

• Sold Ceramics - Sold Japanese Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares 18th Century - Page 1 - Object 2011262.

• Japanese Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares 18th Century - Object 2012354.

• Japanese wares with Western Shapes or Designs 1653-1800 - Page 2 - Object 2011632.

• Sold Ceramics - Sold Japanese Imari 1690-1800 - Tableware and other Porcelain with Western Shapes - Page 1 - Object 2012140.

• Japanese Export Porcelain. Catalogue of the Collection of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, (O. Impey, Hotei Publishing, Amsterdam, 2002), pp.195-196. 

Condition: Perfect.

References:

Davison 1994, cat. 852

Impey 2002, p.191 & pp.195-195

Price: Sold.