Recent Acquisitions
On this page you'll find my latest acquisitions, It may, however, take some time for all objects to load.
This way you can quickly browse through my recently acquired objects without having to browse through all the various categories.
After four weeks each object in 'Recent Acquisitions' will be moved to their specific category.
Latest updates:
Recent Acquisitions; January 21, 2021.
Bargain SALE Chinese Porcelain; January 22, 2021
Bargain SALE Japanese Porcelain: January 22, 2021
Two new categories named 'Bargain SALE Chinese porcelain' and 'Bargain SALE Japanese porcelain' have been created. The categories can be found in the left side menu.
In these categories Chinese and Japanese export porcelain objects for sale are now offered at a significantly reduced price.
If you are interested in a purchase, or want more information, one of the objects in these categories please feel free to contact me at: patergratiaorientalart@hotmail.com.
Japanese Imari 1690-1800 - Dishes
Object 2012343
Dish
Japan
1700-1720
Height 53 mm (2.09 inch), diameter: 295 mm (11.61 inch), diameter of footring: 142 mm (5.59 inch), weight 1,033 grams (36.44 ounce (oz.))
Dish on footring, spreading flat rim. On the base four spur-marks in a Y-pattern. Imari, decorated in underglaze blue, iron-red, green and gold. In the centre a roundel with a flower vase filled with flowering branches and four roundels filled with butterflies and bees and surrounded by a an upturned leaf shape-pattern. The sides with a ground of dense leafy scrolls in underglaze blue outlined in gold. Overlapping four large shaped panels alternating with four small shaped panels all filled with flower sprays. Groups of pomegranates alternate with groups of flowering chrysanthemum. On the reverse three wide spread chrysanthemum sprays. (Jörg 2003/1, pp.91-92)
The Imari style developed somewhere between 1670 and 1690, undoubtedly stimulated by the orders from the Dutch who liked the bright colours, the strong designs and the complex compositions. 'They got a of lot of decoration for their money', a collector once remarked and I think it was this, too, that appealed so much to buyers of Imari in The Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe. In fact, the Imari style conformed to the fashion for polychromy and gilt-work in Europe at the time. The 17th century was ' The Golden Age' for The Netherlands. It was a period of great economic and cultural expansion and its impact was felt well into the 18th century. The richly decorated Imari pieces fitted perfectly into the baroque interior and appealed to the taste of the rich bourgeoisie, enhancing their social status.
Condition: Some wear to the decoration and some popped bubbles of glaze, caused by the firing process, to the rim.
Reference:
Price: € 899 - $ 1,091 - £ 795
(the $ and £ prices are approximates and depend on the € price exchange rate)
Japanese Imari 1690-1800
Object 2012382
Bowl
Japan
1690-1710
Height 89 mm (3.50 inch), diameter of rim 195 mm (7.68 inch), diameter of footring 81 mm (3.19 inch), weight 575 grams (20.28 ounce (oz.))
Lobbed bowl on footring, spreading sides, lobed rim. Imari, decorated in underglaze blue, iron red, green, turquoise, yellow, gray and gold. Inside on the sides a large chrysanthemum spray, two sprays of a flowering plant and a large butterfly. In the centre a Chilon (sea-dragon) in a double concentric band. The inside sprays continue on the outside. The lower half with a foliate scroll border in underglaze blue. Round the foot a band with wavy lines in red. On the base a single concentric band.
An identically shaped, sized and decorated bowl incised with the Johanneum mark 'N=12' and signum square is in the collection of Augustus the Strong in Dresden and registered in the inventory of the collection in 1721 under number P.O. (Porzellan Ostasien) 4792.
For this identically, shaped, sized and decorated bowl, please see;
- Early Japanese Porcelain: Arita Porcelain in the Dresden Collection, (F. Reichel, Londen 1981), cat. 65.
- SKD Online collection.
Impey states that this bowl is unusual in that the blue-and-white decoration and the enamelled decoration are so totally separated. The enamelling is more typical of the type with no underglaze blue, both in style and in palette. (Impey 2002, p.200)
The shape of the bowl is mirrored by its decoration of a kiku-flower. Apart from the unusual, Chinese-style broad band round the foot and the Chilon (sea-dragon) in the centre, no underglaze blue was used in the decoration, allowing the enameller complete freedom. (Jörg 2003/1, p.96)
For an identically shaped and sized and similarly decorated bowl from the collection of the Duke of Northumberland, please see;
- Japanese Export Porcelain. Catalogue of the Collection of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, (O. Impey, Hotei Publishing, Amsterdam, 2002), p.200, cat. 327.
- Eastern Ceramics and other works of art from the collection of Gerald Reitlinger, (Ashmolean Museum, Oxford 1981), p.85, cat. 227.
- Ashmolean Museum Oxford.
For another identically shaped and sized and similarly decorated bowl, please see;
Condition: Perfect with some firing flaws.
References:
Price: Sold.
Japanese Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares 18th Century
Object 2012381
Teacup
Japan
1700-1720
Height 45 mm (1.77 inch), diameter of rim 75 mm (2.95 inch), diameter of footring 30 mm (1.18 inch), weight 55 grams (1.94 ounce (oz.))
Teacup on footring. Imari decorated in underglaze blue, overglaze iron-red, green, yellow, light aubergine, black enamel and gold with a continuous scene of a standing female figure, facing left, wearing a red kimono dress. To her right an open building with wooden roof, with a seated figure, a flowering cherry tree and a closed zig-zag shaped garden fence with a group of flowering plants and two birds in flight amongst flowering cherry branches On the bottom a flower spray in a single concentric band round the inner rim floral scrolls in gold on an underglaze blue ground.
This teacup belongs to the so-called five colour Imari group (gosai). This colour scheme consists of red, green, purple (aubergine) and/or yellow enamels with gold and underglaze blue. Soame Jenyns proposes that the lavish use of golden detailing on the underglaze blue was perhaps meant to hide the imperfections caused by blurring in the firing, a common characteristic of Japanese porcelain. Arts states (he quotes Soame Jenyns on this) that landscapes and human figures are less commonly found on five colour Imari.
Suchomel illustrates an Imari bowl with lid decorated with a very similar blossoming cherry tree motif (sakura). The cherry blossom is regarded as the most important flower of Japan, together with the chrysanthemum. One of the names of Japan is in fact "land of the cherry blossom". The cherry blossom is emblematic of purity of life and the samurai spirit.
Jörg states that It is often not easy to distinguish between export and non-export wares, Imari was certainly not exclusively made for export. This particular type of Imari porcelain was highly esteemed in Japan. In this case, the existence of an identical decorated saucer in a Japanese collection could signify that these saucers were originally meant for the Japanese home market.
For this identically decorated saucer, please see:
Although the cups have roughly the same height and diameter, the diameter and the height of the saucers vary considerably (please see sizes above). Differences in measurements between the same plates or sets are not uncommon in Japanese porcelain. However, another interesting possibility is that the sets with small size saucers might have been used for serving tea while the larger versions were used for serving coffee.
Interestingly the design was also used for overdecorating in the Netherlands, 'Amsterdams Bont' in the early 18th century, Espir shows a plain white Chinese chocolate cup and saucer overdecorated 1708-1720 with the original Japanese design in a Kakiemon style, for this chocolate cup and saucer please see:
A very similar decorated small plate, again with a blossoming cherry tree, fenced garden and identical blue rim with golden scrollwork, however without the exceptional Japanese figures, is described in Impey’s 'Japanese Export Porcelain', cat. 330. Interestingly, he mentions that the Ashmolean Museum also has a Worcester cup and saucer of that same pattern in the Marshall collection.
Impey records a very similar decorated small plate, again with a blossoming cherry tree, fenced garden and identical blue rim with golden scrollwork, however without the exceptional Japanese figures. Interestingly, he mentions that the Ashmolean Museum also has a Worcester cup and saucer of that same pattern in the Marshall collection
Conditions: Perfect.
References:
Price: Sold.
More pictures of object 2011955 another identically shaped and decorated, sold teacup and saucer >>
More pictures of object 2011470 another identically shaped and decorated, sold saucer >>
Japanese Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares 18th Century
Object 2012375
Teapot
Japan
1700-1720
Height with cover 75 mm (2.95 inch), height without cover 64 mm (2.44 inch), diameter handle to spout 129 mm (5.63 inch), diameter of mouthrim 40 mm (1.57 inch), diameter of footring 45 mm (1.77 inch), weight with cover 213 grams (7.15 ounce (oz.)), weight cover 26 grams (0.92 ounce (oz.))
Teapot of globular shape on footring, curved handle and short, slightly bent spout. Domed cover that is larger than the mouth. Round knob. Imari decorated in underglaze blue, iron-red and gold. Imari decorated in underglaze blue, iron-red and gold on each side with flowering chrysanthemum plants in a lotus-petal panel flanked by flowering carnation plants in lotus-petal panels On the other side flowering carnation plants in a lotus-petal panel flanked by flowering chrysanthemum plants in lotus-petal panels Round the mouthrim groups of flower sprays. Round the foot an ascending pointed lotus leaves-patterm border. On the handle a floret between scrolls. On the cover two flowering chrysanthemum plants opposite two flowering carnation plants.
These teapots were probably made for export, although the decoration is not very European, while the spout is very blunt. Those with a more elongated or curved spout seem to be more akin to the European teapot, but their shape was probably inspired by the Chinese teapot of the 16th century, which looked like the European teapot but was much smaller. It had a handle at the side, a spout opposite to it and a lid. (Arts 1983, p.53)
The wide, overlapping cover without a flat rim, breaking the line of the curving body, is unusual.(Jörg 2003/1, p.196)
Condition: Firing flaws to the tip of the spout and cover.
References:
Price: Sold.
Japanese Imari 1690-1800
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:
-
Japanese Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares 18th Century - Object 2012354.
-
Japanese wares with Western Shapes or Designs 1653-1800 - Page 2 - Object 2011632.
- Japanese Export Porcelain. Catalogue of the Collection of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, (O. Impey, Hotei Publishing, Amsterdam, 2002), pp.195-196.
Condition: Perfect.
References:
Impey 2002, p.191 & pp.195-195
Price: € 749 - $ 910 - £ 665
(the $ and £ prices are approximates and depend on the € price exchange rate)
Southeast Asia / Other Ceramics
Object 2010200
Jarlet
Annamese (Vietnamese)
c.1500
Height 92 mm (3.62 inch), diameter 88 mm (3.46 inch), diameter of rim 29 mm (1.14 inch), diameter of footring 49 mm (1.93 inch), weight 269 grams (9.49 ounce (oz.))
Octagonal jarlet on footring with angled shoulder and a short upright neck. Crackled glaze. Decorated in underglaze blue with octagonal shaped panels filled with flowering plants alternating with rectangular shaped panels filled with a zig-zag-lines pattern. Round the shoulder panels with flower sprays alternating with panels with zig-zag lines. Round the shoulder an overlapping pointed lotus leaf-pattern border.
Similarly shaped and decorated jarlets were found amongst the salvaged cargo of the The Lena Shoal junk shipwreck which sank around 1490 during the Ming-Dynasty in the reign of the Emperor Hongzhi. The Lena shipwreck was discovered in 1997 at a depth of 48 meters. She was wrecked on a reef and sank off the island of Busuanga, in the Philippines, one of about 7,000 islands, reefs and sandbanks in the area. It contained more than 5,000 objects, mostly Asian ceramics, but also small bronze guns, lacquer toilets, bronze bracelets, lead and iron ingots, woks, copper containers, spices, glass beads and elephant tusks. (source: UNESCO)
For similarly shaped and decorated jarlets, please see:
Condition: Some firing flaws to the footring caused by the firing process.
Reference:
Lammers en Ridho 1974, cat. 5A90/1945
Price: € 299 - $ 363 - £ 270
(the $ and £ prices are approximates and depend on the € price exchange rate)
Japanese Blue and White wares 17th Century
Object 2012267
Covered jar
Japan
1680-1700
Height with cover 152 mm (5.98 inch), height without cover 108 mm (4.25 inch), diameter of rim 131 mm (5.16 inch), diameter of footring 80 mm (3.15 inch), weight with cover 810 grams (28.57 ounce (oz.)), weight cover 232 grams (8.18 ounce (oz.))
Cylindrical jar on high foot, recessed base. Domed cover with flattened knob. Decorated in underglaze blue with a mountainous landscape with a large pine tree. Round the foot a double concentric band. The cover is decorated en suite.
This type of covered jar might have be used as a small tureen in the West. In Arita the type was obviously made for export and adapted to meet Dutch demands. Therefore this type of covered jar can be categorized as a Western shape. They are were made in more or less fixed sizes.
For a similarly shaped covered jar, please see:
- The Shibata Collection Part II, (The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, Kyushu, 1991), p.260, cat. 682.
- Complete Catalogue of the Shibata Collection, (The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, Kyushu 2003), p.316, cat. 2469.
Condition:
Jar: A restored hairline and restored chips to the rim and inner footring.
Cover: Restored, (broken in three pieces).
References:
Price: Sold.
Japanese Blue and White wares 17th century
Object 2012376
Small size double-gourd bottle
Japan
1660-1680
Height 110 mm (4.33 inch), diameter 68 mm (2.68 inch), diameter of mouthrim 26 mm (1.02 inch), diameter of footring 35 mm (1.38 inch), weight 133 grams (4.69 ounce (oz.))
Small size double-gourd bottle with flaring neck on footring. Decorated in underglaze blue. On the lower bulb a landscape with a seated figure, enclosed by a single and a double line. On the upper bulb, plants on rocks, enclosed by double lines. Around the neck a border of descending lotus leaves.
Double-gourd bottles of this small size are relatively uncommon, and the shape usually bears a later version of the Transitional style decoration. (Impey 2002, p.46, cat.16)
For similarly shaped small size double-gourd bottles, please see:
- Japanese Export Porcelain. Catalogue of the Collection of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, (O. Impey, Hotei Publishing, Amsterdam, 2002), p.46, cat. 16.
- Porzellan aus China und Japan. Die Porzellangalerie der Landgrafen von Hessen-Kassel, (Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Kassel, Berlin 1990), pp.458-460, cat. 232.
- The Shibata Collection Part II, (The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, Kyushu, 1991), p.131, cat. 332.
- Complete Catalogue of the Shibata Collection, (The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, Kyushu 2003), p.181, cat. 1390.
- Sold Ceramics - Sold Japanese Blue and White wares 17th century - Other wares - Page 1 - Object 2010937.
Condition: Perfect with fine crazing to the glaze on the base and round the foot. Two glaze firing flaws to the inner mouth and firing flaws to the base and footring all caused by the firing process.
References:
Price: Sold.
Chinese wares over-decorated in the West 1700-1800 - Dutch over-decorated Amsterdams Bont - Chinoiserie / Japonaiserie Designs
Object 2012368
Tea caddy
China
1720-1740, over-decorated in the Netherlands 1730-1760
Height including cover 108 mm (4.25 inch), height excluding cover 99 mm (3.90 inch), dimensions 88 mm (3.46 inch) x 53 mm (2.09 inch), weight including cover 291 grams (10.27 ounce (oz.)), weight cover 23 grams (0.81 ounce (oz.))
Tea caddy of rectangular form with canted corners, a flat shoulder with a short upright neck and cover. The flat base is unglazed. Decorated in underglaze blue around the foot, the shoulder and on the shoulder with a stylised border of folded leaves with reserves filled with a floret between scrolls. Around the cover a silk worm pattern border and on top flowering aster plants. Over-decorated in the Netherlands, Amsterdams Bont c.1730-1760, in iron-red, gold and various overglaze enamels with a chinoiserie of a sitting Lady doing some needle work in a fenced garden landscape with rockwork and flowering plants and trees. The short upright neck is flanked by groups of flowering plants. On the sides of the cover half flower heads with leafy branches alternating with insects in flight, On top of the cover various flowering plants.
For a similarly, shaped, sized and decorated tea caddy, please see:
Condition: A chip to the shoulder and loss of glaze to various spots of the edges of the tea caddy and cover.
Price: Sold.
Object 2012370
Dish
Japan
1710-1730
Height 51 mm (2.01 inch), diameter of rim 280 mm (11.02 inch), diameter of footring 158 mm (6.22 inch), weight 880 grams (31.04 ounce (oz.))
Dish on footring, straight sides, short flat rim with an upturned scalloped edge. On the base five spur-marks. Imari, decorated in underglaze blue and overglaze iron-red, turquoise enamel and gold with birds in flight alternaing with roundels filled with flowering plants or left blank on an underglaze blue ground of swirling snowflakes with flower heads in iron-red and gold.
On the sides birds in flight alternating with two connected roundels either filled with a flowering plant or left blank alternating with a single roundel filled with a flowering plant or left blank on an underglaze blue ground of swirling snowflakes and flower heads in iron-red and gold. On the flat rim half flower heads alternate with a lozenge. On the reverse a wide leafy floral scroll with flower heads in iron-red. Round the outer footring a continuous cloud pattern border in iron-red. On the outer footring a double concentric band. Marked on the base with a fuku ('luck') mark within a double-lined square in running script.
The 'fuku' ('luck') mark within a double-lined square (the most common mark, found on Kakiemon pieces), is originally a Chinese commendation mark. Fitski suggests that after 1700, workshops elsewhere in Arita also started to use the mark, but these are less carefully drawn and in some cases they are illegible, spiralling round four times, for instance, instead of three times. (Fitski 2011, p.164)
For an identically decorated, sold, bottle, please see:
The unusual and rare 'swirling snowflakes' design can also be seen on a vase in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum, for this vase please see:
Condition: A frit and chip to the rim.
Reference:
Price: Sold.
Object 2012380
Bottle
Japan
1700-1725
Height 245 mm (9.65 inch), diameter 119 mm (4.69 inch), diameter of mouthrim 18 mm (0.71 inch), diameter of footring 70 mm (2.76 inch), weight 474 grams (16.72 ounce (oz.))
Pear-shaped bottle on footring, rounded body, tall narrow neck. Imari, decorated in underglaze blue, and overglaze iron-red and gold with three roundels filled with various flowering plants on an underglaze blue ground of swirling snowflakes alternating with birds in flight. Round the foot a lappets-pattern border and round the shoulder three connected leaves alternating with flower heads. Round the rim three descending floral scrolls.
Sets of identical bottles or vases were probably an alternative to the expensive garnitures that were placed on top of porcelain cabinets in the Dutch interior. (Jörg 2003/1, p.99)
There are two identically shaped, sized and decorated bottles in the collection of the Dutch Castle Duivenvoorde, to see this set please click here.
This unusual and rare design with the swirling snowflakes can also be seen on a vase in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum, for this vase please see:
Condition: Perfect, with some fine crazing to the glaze to on the base and round the foot.
References:
Price: Sold.
Japanese Blue and White wares 17th Century - Dishes
Objects 2012377 & 2012378
A pair of dishes
Japan
1670-1690
2012377: height 32 mm (1.26 inch), diameter of rim 215 mm (8.46 inch), diameter of footring 109 mm (4.29 inch), weight 382 grams (13.47 ounce (oz.))
2012378: height 35 mm (1.38 inch), diameter of rim 210 mm (8.27 inch), diameter of footring 111 mm (4.37 inch), weight 368 grams (12.98 ounce (oz.))
Two dishes on footrings, flat rims. On the bases four spur-marks in a Y-pattern. Decorated in underglaze blue with insects, birds and a flowering plant growing from rockwork. The sides and rim in Chinese kraak style (fuyõ-de with six equal wide panels) outlined with two lines each filled with flowering plants, insects and two birds. On the reverses four wide spread flower sprays.
This type of border with six equal panels generally containing plants is best known from the plates with the East India Company monogram in a landscape adapted to incorporate. Sometimes these equal panels are outlined with two lines as on K'ang Hsi porcelain. (Lunsingh Scheurleer 1971, p.14 & p.50)
The four wide spread flower sprays on the reverse rim are a rare decorating design on dishes of this period it seems to have been copied from Chinese wares from the Kangxi period.
For smaller, identically decorated, dishes please see;
- Japans porselein met blauwe decoraties uit de tweede helft van de zeventiende en de eerste helft van de achttiende eeuw. (D.F. Lunsingh Scheurleer in Mededelingenblad Nederlandse Vereniging van Vrienden van de Ceramiek, vols. 64/65, 1971), p.59, cat. 24.
- Hizen wares abroad, The 10th anniversary special exhibition, (Kyushu Ceramic Museum, Kyushu, 1990), p.60, cat. 62 & p.61, cat. 63.
-
Japanese Blue and White wares 17th Century - Dishes - Page 1 - Object 2011910.
-
Sold Ceramics - Sold Japanese Blue and White wares 17th Century - Dishes - Page 2 - Object 2011892.
Condition:
2012377: Perfect with some kiln grit adhering to the inner footring caused by the firing process.
2012378: Perfect with two firing flaws, caused by the firing process.
References:
Lunsingh Scheurleer 1971, p.14, p.50 & cat. 24
Kyushu 1990/1, cat. 62 & cat. 63
Ostkamp 2011, p.12 & p.31, note 39
Price: Sold.
Chinese Imari 1700-1800 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares
Object 2012374
Teapot
China
1710-1730
Height including the cover 98 mm (3.86 inch), diameter handle to spout 177 mm (6.97 inch), diameter of mouthrim 57 mm (2.24 inch), diameter of footring 62 mm (2.44 inch), weight with cover 349 grams (12.31 ounce (oz.)), weight cover 30 grams (1.06 ounce (oz.))
Teapot of globular shape on a footring. Straight spout with a curved C-shaped handle. The inlaying flat cover (pierced) with round knob. Chinese Imari, decorated in underglaze blue and overglaze iron-red and gold with on one side a paper folded container with a knotted ribbon filled with flowering chrysanthemum and iris branhces and on the other side a paper folded container with a knotted ribbon filled with flowering iris branches and blossoming prunus branches. Round the mouth a border with florets between scrolls in gold on an iron-red ground. On the spout and handle scattered stylised clouds motifs. On the cover two flower sprays.
Jörg states that among the Japanese motifs (taken over by the Chinese as decorating designs for Chinese Imari) were the kiku (chrysanthemum) roundels, fan-shaped panels, partly unrolled bamboo blinds and rather pronounced foliate and floral scrolls. (Jörg & Van Campen 1997, p.199) When looking closely at the chrysanthemum flower group on this teapot, one can easily spot a Japanese shaped kiku roundel (chrysanthemum flower head) between the Chinese shaped chrysanthemum flower heads and the paper folded container with knotted ribbon.
For an identically shaped, sized and decorated, Japanese Imari decorated teapot, please see:
For an example of a paper folded container, filled with flowering branches, with a knotted riibbon on a Japanese Imari bowl please see:
Condition: A firing tension hairline round the upper attachment of the handle to the teapot and a small frit to the tip of the spout.
References:
Price: Sold.
Chinese Imari 1700-1800 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares
Object 2012367
Teapot
China
1700-1720
Height including the cover 99 mm (3.90 inch), diameter handle to spout 175 mm (6.89 inch), diameter of mouthrim 64 mm (2.52 inch), diameter of footring 62 mm (2.44 inch), weight with cover 411 grams (14.50 ounce (oz.)), weight cover 36 grams (1.27 ounce (oz.))
Teapot of globular shape on a footring. Straight spout with a curved C-shaped handle. The inlaying flat cover (pierced) with round knob. Chinese Imari, decorated in underglaze blue, and overglaze iron-red, green and black enamel and gold with on either side a stylized 12-petal chrysanthemum crest, (kiku no mon). The petals are decorated in gold and iron-red, gold reserved on an underglaze blue ground and iron-red on a densely painted green-speckled ('frog's-spawn') ground. Those in gold reserved on an underglaze blue ground show either a lozenge / diaper pattern (tasuki) or scale pattern. Those in red and gold show designs of a stylised fungus. Those in iron-red on a densely painted green-speckled ('frog's-spawn') ground also show a stylised fungus. The stylized 12-petal chrysanthemum crest is flanked by two large leaves and leafy scrolls. Round the mouth a border with two rows with stylised half flowerheads. On the spout and handle scattered stylised clouds. Round the attachments of the handle and the spout stylised cloud pattern borders. The cover is decorated en suite.
Chinese porcelain producers developed new types of decorations in the early 18th century, Chinese Imari being one of them. It is characterized by a combination of underglaze blue and overglaze red and gold. Details are sometimes in black and green enamels. This development was a reaction to the success of Japanese Imari porcelain with a similar colour scheme. Sometimes Chinese imitations, (see the decoration on this particlar teapot) are direct copies of Japanese examples but more often Chinese Imari is decorated with typical Chinese motifs that are closely related to the underglaze-blue patterns of the period. However, the use of red and gold makes Chinese Imari more lavish. Landscapes, flowering plants, birds and mythical creatures are recurring motifs. Depictions of humans are less frequent and apart from armorial pieces, European designs are quite rare. The shapes fit into the normal export assortment. Chinese Imari was not only in demand in the West, but also in south-east Asia, India, and the Ottoman Empire. In the VOC (Dutch East India Company, 1602–1799) records it is called 'Chinese-Japanese' and in addition to blue and white and enamelled wares, this was a standard type in the Company's assortment that was bought in Canton until the end of the 18th century.
Chinese Imari usually confined itself to iron-red, underglaze blue, and gold, but occasionally it was enriched with famille verte panels. It was based on the Japanese wares of a similar type made in the Arita kilns and exported to Europe in enormous quantities from the port of Imari in the Southern Island. (Boulay 1984, p.252)
The production of Chinese Imari starting in the early years of the 18th century, reached its peak in the 1720s and 1730s, but became formalised and repetitive in the next decades. Although Chinese Imari was primarily produced for export, it may be noted that there are some pieces in this style in the Palace Museum, Beijing. If these really were part of the imperial collection and not later additions, they are an indication that Chinese Imari was also appreciated by the Chinese an probably served as some kind of "Western" exotic ware. (Jörg & Van Campen 1997, pp.199-200)
Condition: A firing tension hairline to the underside of the attachment of the handle.
References:
Jörg & Van Campen 1997, pp.199-200
Price: Sold.
Japanese Imari 1690-1800 - Dishes
Object 2012365
Dish
Japan
1700-1720
Height 40 mm (1.57 inch), diameter of rim 225 mm (8.86 inch), diameter of footring 135 mm (5.31 inch), weight 504 grams (17.78 ounce (oz.))
Dish on footring, straight rim. On the base three spur-marks. Imari, decorated in underglaze blue, iron-red, green, yellow and black enamel and gold with a stylized 12-petal chrysanthemum crest, (kiku no mon). The petals are decorated in gold and iron-red and gold reserved on an underglaze blue ground. Those in gold reserved on an underglaze blue ground show either a lozenge / diaper pattern (tasuki) or floral scrolls. Those in red and gold show designs of a flowering peony or a swastika / diaper pattern. The central decoration is surrounded by a continuous swirling clouds pattern border in iron-red. On the sides six reserves filled with a river scape alternating with a flowering chrysanthemum plant. in between the reserves half flower heads with leafy scrolls in gold on an underglaze blue ground. The reverse with three wide spread interlocking chrysanthemum sprays, round the outer footring a continuous swirling clouds pattern border in iron-red. On the base a single concentric band.
Although some types of chrysanthemum begin flowering in the summer, the chrysanthemum is primarily an indication of autumn. Like many autumn motifs the chrysanthemum evokes feelings of melancholy in Japan, as is beautifully expressed in a poem by the 9th-century Ki no Tomonori:
tsuyu nagara / to wear in my hair
arite kazasamu / I plucked a chrysanthemum
kiku no hana / with dew still clinging to it
aisenu aki no / oh may this present
hisashikarubeku / autumn's youth last forever
For dishes with a similarly large central chrysanthemum crest, (kiku no mon), please see:
- Mistrovská dĩla Japonského porcelánu / Masterpieces of Japanese Porcelain, (F. Suchomel, Prague 1997), p.145, cat. 197.
- Imari-Porzellan am Hofe der Kaiserin Maria Theresia, exhibition catalogue (Hetjens-Museum, Düsseldorf, 2000), p.83, cat. 58.
- Porzellan aus China und Japan. Die Porzellangalerie der Landgrafen von Hessen-Kassel, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Kassel, Berlin 1990, p.518, cat. 286.
- Ko-Imari from the collection of Oliver Impey, (Barry Davies Oriental Art, London, 1997), pp. 200-201, cat. 119.
- Mistrovská dĩla Japonského porcelánu / Masterpieces of Japanese Porcelain, (F. Suchomel, Prague 1997), p.109, cat. 104 & p.128, cat 156.
- Japanese Export Porcelain. Catalogue of the Collection of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, (O. Impey, Hotei Publishing, Amsterdam, 2002), p.210, cat. 354.
- Fine & Curious: Japanese Export Porcelain in Dutch Collections, (C.J.A. Jörg, Hotei publishing, Amsterdam, 2003), p.117, cat.126 & p.197, cat. 247 & 247a.
- Complete Catalogue of the Shibata Collection, (The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, Kyushu 2003), p.356, cat. 2789.
For a dish with a similarly large central chrysanthemum crest, (kiku no mon), formerly part of the Dresden collection formed by Friedrich August or August the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland please see:
The crackled glaze is caused by the unequal contraction of the body and the glaze during cooling in the kiln after firing. (Jörg & Van Campen 1997, p.235)
Condition: Perfect.
References:
Suchomel 1997, cat. 104, 156 & 197
Jörg 2003/1, cat. 126, 247 & 247a
Price: Sold.
Japanese Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares 18th Century
Object 2012354
Teacup
Japan
1690-1730
Height 44 mm (1.73 inch), diameter of rim 75 mm (2.95 inch), diameter of footring 32 mm (1.26 inch), weight 57 grams (2.01 ounce (oz.))
Bowl on footring, spreading sides with a slightly everted rim. Decorated in iron-red, green, yellow and black enamel and gold with four peony flower sprays. On the bottom a single peony flower spray in a single. iron-red concentric band. The inner rim with a border of x's alternating with dots in gold.
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, pp.191)
For an identically shaped, sized and decorated tea cup and saucer please see:
- The Shibata Collection Part V, (The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, Kyushu, 1997), p.146, cat. 207.
- The Voyage of Old-Imari Porcelains, (Kyushu Ceramic Museum, Arita 2000), p.57, cat. 88.
For other similarly decorated objects please see:
Condition: Perfect.
References:
Impey 2002, p.191 & pp.195-195
Price: Sold.
Japanese Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares 18th Century
Object 2012361
Bowl
Japan
1710-1730
Height 70 mm (2.76 inch), diameter of rim 139 mm (5.47 inch), diameter of footring 59 mm (2.32 inch), weight 213 grams (7.51 ounce (oz.))
Bowl on footring, spreading sides. Imari decorated in underglaze blue, iron-red and gold with three kidney-shaped panels reserved on a dark blue ground filled with flowering plants and birds. The panels are flanked by three flowerheads on a dark blue ground with leafy scrolls in gold. On the bottom a single flower spray.
This bowl, was probably once part of a coffee or tea service and would have been used as a rinse bowl. For other parts of this service please see the 'More pictures >>'.
Condition: A fleabite to the rim.
Price: Sold.
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