18th Century Japanese Bizen Sake Bottle With Ash Glaze (item #586685)

Japanese and Chinese antiques and art from B & C

18th Century Japanese Bizen Sake Bottle With Ash Glaze

browse these categories for related items...
All Items: Antiques:Regional Art:Asian:Japanese:Stoneware: Pre 1800: item # 586685

Please refer to our stock # 2C-302 when inquiring.

Click to view additional online photographs

B & C Antiques
P. O. Box 291
Derby, CT 06418
203-929-7312

Guest Book

SOLD

18th Century Japanese Bizen Sake Bottle With Ash Glaze

This classic example of mingei folk ceramics is an early mallet-form tokkuri (sake bottle) from the Imbe kilns in Bizen province which dates to the Edo period, 18th century. The base of the bottle has an impressed Imbe mark with the kanji character for the number 2 (“ni”) within a circle. Potted from a hard dark gray clay with a dark brick-red or brownish-red exterior color and unglazed when initially fired, this piece emerged from the kiln with a unique pattern of fawn-colored spots of natural wood ash overglaze spread randomly about the neck and shoulder of the side of the bottle closest to the flame. The upper three quarters of the body is tightly ribbed. The wide-bottomed mallet form, which made it more difficult for the bottle to tip over, indicates that this piece could have been used as a funa tokkuri or ship’s sake container.

For centuries, Bizen has been highly regarded for its dark red-brown stoneware made from iron-rich clay with a natural ash glaze. Bizen is unglazed but fired at such a high a temperature that a natural glaze is formed on the surface. Also upon firing, wood ash flies up in the kiln and is deposited randomly on the pottery, giving each piece its own individuality and vitality. The beauty inherent in the unglazed, red-brown clay forms was often left untouched, giving the vessels the luster of burnished bronze. The height Bizen pottery was attained in the 18th century, and specimens from that period are much finer than subsequent works.

This important tokkuri is ex. collection R. B. Caldwell of Dallas, TX, a collector well known for his knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture, particularly in the area of tea ceremony ceramics.

CONDITION is very good, with normal wear consistent with age and usage. There is an old restoration to the lip (see Enlargement Photograph 7), which is not uncommon on these early bottles. The kiln grit and ash glaze pops add further dimension to its unique appearance and wonderful texture. DIMENSIONS: 9 ¾” (25 cm) high, 7” (18 cm) wide.