SOLD.
An extremely rare & gorgeously enamelled early Kakiemon kendi-form vessel (gorgelet), the bulbous body very finely decorated with iron-red, blue, green and black enamels featuring two large lotus-shaped panels separated by a flamboyant blue and green phoenix, with integral gourd-form spout terminating in an enamel blue-washed nipple, the cylindrical neck with flared lip decorated with clouds
Early Enamelled Ware, Kakiemon type, Arita kiln, Hizen province, Japan
Edo period (mid 17th century)circa 1660-80
Measurements
22.0 cm high, 17.5 cm wide
Condition
In very fine original condition with only minor rubbing to enamels and very minor glaze crazing.
Description
The bulbous body with gourd-form spout very finely decorated in iron-red, blue, green and black enamels with two large lotus-shaped panels separated by a flamboyant blue and green phoenix, the cylindrical neck decorated with Chinese Transitional style tulips motifs and terminating in an extruded lip with stylized clouds, the mammiform spout decorated with stylized clouds with the nipple covered in blue enamel.
The kendi is an ancient form of drinking vessel widely used across Asia with no handle; one holds the vessel by the neck and drinks from the spout. As noted by Volker (1954), the shipping records from the Netherlandish VOC trading ship Buienskerke (sailed from Nagasaki 4 November 1662) list 50 Japanese gorgoletten as part of their porcelain cargo destined for Holland; Volker identifies the gorgelet as a kendi-form vessel.
The application of the enamels and the form of the porcelain body are very similar to an enamelled kendi decorated with frolicking shishi in the Collection of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
Storage
With a large antique Japanese wooden storage box and ribbon ties.
A gorgeously enamelled Kakiemon kendi (gorgelet) with phoenix, Arita c1660-80
SOLD.
For more information, please contact
BARASET HOUSE FINE ART
416 666 6295
info@barasethouse.com
COMPARABLE EXAMPLES
Several very slightly smaller but similarly enamelled Kakiemon style kendi in the Collection of the Ashmolean Museum (Oxford), illustrated in Oliver Impey's 'Japanese Export Porcelain' (Hotei 2002) p.78-79.
A similarly modelled and enamelled kendi in the Collection of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (Australia) catalogued as 'Arita Ware Drinking Ewer, Japanese, 1650-1700', 20.4 cm high, Fred and Isabel Pollard Collection (1965.050.001).
Another similarly enamelled kendi in the Collection of the Honolulu Museum of Art (Hawaii), catalogued as 'Ritual pouring vessel (kendi) from Japan, Edo period, 17th century, porcelain with enamel', accession number 3569.1.
Another very slightly smaller but similarly enamelled Kakiemon style kendi formerly in the Collection of Richard W. Weatherhead, sold Christie's (London) Japanese & Korean Art 24 March 2010, lot 507.
Another similar example illustrated in Nagatake Takeshi, Yabe Yoshiaki and Minamoto Hiromichi, eds., Kakiemon no sekai ten: genryu kara gendai made (Exhibition of the world of Kakiemon: from its origins to the present), exh. cat. (Tokyo: Asahi Shimbunsha, 1983), pl. 30.