Magnificent Japanese Kakiemon Jar, Edo, 17th Century

This is an extremely rare and beautiful early Japanese Kakiemon jar from late 17th Century. The well-potted jar has an ovoid upper shoulder with an upright mouth rim and a sharply tapered and bracketed bottom. The entire vessel except the foot and mouth rims is covered with a clear glaze over a pure white porcelain body of the quality termed Nigoshide (milky-white background) by Japanese ceramics connoisseurs. The fine pure white glaze surface is adorned with of a blue bird perching on a willow tree overlooking the spacious garden with blossoming flowers and stylized rock works. The painting style is typical of early Kakiemon wares from the Arita kilns area, with its vivid over-the-glaze enamels against a seemingly endless white background. This wonderful jar exemplies the quality and beauty of early Kakiemon which had lasting influence over important European wares such as Meissen, Chantilly and bow porcelains. This jar must have been produced for the domestic market as there is no hint of any Western influence seen on later Kakiemon pieces made for export to Europe. It has been preserved in an important Japanese collection before entering our family in early 1950's. A label dated to the 17th year of Meiwa period (1781 A.D.) on the old wooden box states that the jar was part of a collection call Tou-Gou-Tou (The Hall of East Lake). Other than a small gold lacquer repair at the inside edge of the mouth rim, this old Kakiemon jar is in excellent condition with superb painting in fine enamel over an unsurpassed fine Nigoshide glaze. Early Kakiemon wares with fine Japanese style decoration are extremely rare. We are proud to be offering this museum-quality Kakiemon jar for serious collectors.
Size: height: 22.9cm body diameter: 20cm