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Large Imari Sake Bottle in Rare Bell Shape browse these categories for related items... All Items: Antiques:Regional Art:Asian:Japanese:Porcelain: Pre 1900: item # 278024 Please refer to our stock # 2C-382 when inquiring.
B & C Antiques P. O. Box 291 Derby, CT 06418 203-929-7312 Guest Book $875 |
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This stunning Japanese polychrome Imari porcelain sake bottle (“tokkuri”) in unusual bell shape is decorated with two bell shaped panels depicting ho-ho birds (phoenix) and paulownia leaves in vibrant polychrome enamels and underglaze blue on a pure white ground. Mid to late 19th century. The base is marked with the six-character Chinese Ming Dynasty reign mark, “Cheng Hua” (“Dai Min Sei Ka Nen Sei” in Japanese) within a high raised foot rim encircled by two blue lines, and the bottom is decorated with an underglaze cobalt blue “botan” or peony petal pattern. A gilded underglaze blue band encircles the shoulder, and the lip is gilded. This bottle is beautifully hand painted in the brilliant Imari palette used on pieces of superior quality, i.e., red, green, aubergine, yellow and gilt overglaze enamels with underglaze cobalt blue enamel. The background is done in a rich overglaze iron red enamel floral design with underglaze blue borders and gilt highlights which, together with the two bell shaped phoenix panels, gives this highly decorative bottle a stable formality. (A similar style Imari bottle is illustrated on page 41 in “Shape & Decoration in Japanese Export Ceramics” by Nancy N. Schiffer.) The ho-ho bird motif is a meaningful one. In Japan, the phoenix came to be a symbol of imperial authority, frequently combining with other motifs, especially the paulownia. Tradition holds that the paulownia is the only tree on which the legendary phoenix alights. Represented with the body of a pheasant and the tail feathers of a peacock, the ho-ho bird signifies uprightness, humility, honesty and sincerity. The term Imari today refers to hard-paste white porcelain ware made in the vicinity of Arita. The name Imari derives from the port city of Imari on the northern coast of Kyushu where the pieces originally were sold and from which the pieces were shipped to foreign ports. CONDITION is perfect. DIMENSIONS: 11” high, 7” diameter. |
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