Andrew Smith & Son
Lot 209
An Imari double gourd vase, decorated in typical underglaze blue, orange and gilt with panels of flower arrangements and Tsuri-Daiko, or other, percussion instruments from the Gagaku (to accompany the classical dance, Bugaku); 40cm high, Meiji Period; together with another Imari vase of tapering, cylindrical form, decorated with a panel depicting a standing Bijin from the Genroku Jidei, 46cm high, also Meiji Period. (2)Provenance: The John Wilson Collection of Japanese Imari and Asian export ceramics. This collection, which comprises Lots 209 -272 inclusive, has been formed by the vendor as a direct result of his deep appreciation for Japanese Design. Whilst the years of the Meiji Period provided an extensive export trade of Imari porcelains to Europe, many of the designs were repeatedly duplicated to cater for the European taste in natural history. Designs depicting characters from Japanese culture, history, literature and legend were generally scarcer. It is interesting therefore that the collection here contains some of these designs which are generally harder to discover on the market. The Rokkasen (see Lot 210 below), famous throughout Japan from the Heian Jidei onwards, are a case in point. They rarely appear on Japanese Imari when compared to the famous floral designs, often defined by the Shochikubai, whose fame, of course rests on their ability to take on the winter weather. The poems of the Rokkasen have survived in some quantity, and some can be found in Kokin Wakashi. Condition Report Please note that the damage includes: areas of cracking and deterioration to the double gourd vase.
