It is the excellent work that catches the eye with its clear and vivid blue and white. The thickness of the work, which is over 21.0 cm, gives it a solitary presence, and the iron glaze around the edge of the plate gives it a tighter appearance. There is something to marvel at the outstanding technical capabilities and sophisticated design with a high degree of perfection.
Inquiry
- Product Code
- 230605-3
- Period
- Edo Period
Late 17th century
- Weight
- 574g
- Diameter
- 21.8cm
- Height
- 4.1cm
- Bottom Diameter
- 15.2cm
- Description
- Paulonia Box
- Condition
- Excellent Condition
The beautiful base, ideal blue and white, and excellent baking meet the requirements for first class work.
Old-Kakiemon
https://tenpyodo.com/dictionary/old-kakiemon/
Old-kakiemon is a style of imari ware developed in arita, hizen（current saga prefecture）, in the mainly during the Enpo era（1673-81）. Today “Kakiemon” is defined not as exclusive works made by the kakiemon family alone but as a group of works ordered in significant quantities by the Dutch East India Company（VOC）and produced for export by several kilns in hizen arita. The elegant and graceful old-kakiemon, with its exquisite workmanship and delicate painting that makes full use of blank spaces, was especially popular among the porcelains exported in significant quantities by the VOC, and its high class work attracted european royalty and aristocrats. In addition, the warm and soft milky white base called “Nigoshide” accentuated the vividness of painted colors and greatly influenced later european porcelains such as meissen and chantilly. In the old-kakiemon, there are many works with inscriptions called “Uzufuku”. The name for this type of inscription comes from how the designed “Fuku” resembles a whirlpool. Inscriptions such as “Kin（Gold）”, “Inishiebito（Ancient People）” are often found on the finest, superior works. Although old-imari exported during the edo period displayed elegant beauty, the old-kakiemon works still catch people’s eyes and attract their interest even today.
Stamping Molding
Stamping molding is a molding technique in which the base is turned on a potter’s wheel and then fitted into a mold to express the shape of the mold and the carved design. It is possible to create complex shapes such as polygons and flower shapes based on perfect circles formed on the potter’s wheel. The bottom is circular because it is carved out by turning the potter’s wheel while it is still in the mold.
Doragon
The dragon is an imaginary creature that lives in water, flies in the sky, and creates clouds and summons rain. In ancient china, it was revered as one of the “Four Spirits” along with Qilin, Phoenix, and Tortoise. In china, the dragon is known as the symbol of the “Emperor” and the phoenix is the symbol of the “Empress”, and it has become an important decorative design in korea and japan. In 1297, it was decided that the dragon claws used by ordinary people should have four claws, and in 1314, the yuan dynasty decided to use the “Five Claws and Two Horns” dragon as the symbolic design of the emperor and court. The ming and qing dynasties also inherited this system, and it was used in the official kiln of jingdezhen. The idea of five clawed dragon did not enter japan. It is said that the dragon was drawn in a round design, reflecting the desire of the common people to be a wise ruler who could rule the world in a circle.
The Era Establishing the Export Industry Between the VOC and Japan
The east india companies were chartered companies established by european countries in the 17th century（the british in 1600, the dutch in 1602, and the french in 1604）for trade with the orient. The dutch east india company’s monogram, consisting of the initials “VOC”（Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie）, was its emblem, was put on warehouses, coins, cannons, flags, ceramics, etc, to indicate the company’s ownership of products. In addition to spices, its original product of interest, the company also sought porcelain that could not be produced in europe and traded with china. The hard porcelain imported from china was called “White Gold” and was traded as a valuable item, rivaling gold in value. Once vast quantities of porcelain, a luxury item and symbol of wealth, were brought to europe, its beauty deeply impressed europeans, encouraging china to produce even more products. However, due to the civil war following the change between the ming and qing dynasties in the 1640s and policies restricting overseas trade, the quality of porcelain fired in the jingdezhen kiln and other porcelain kilns became inferior, making it almost impossible to buy porcelain products. As a result, the company sought japanese porcelain, which could be produced without interruption, as an alternative. In 1653, japan entered into an export deal with the dutch east india company（VOC）for imari ware. In 1659, japan received a massive order of about 56,700 pieces, ushering in a glamorous era for the export industry in japan. The new feudal system of the tokugawa government beginning to take shape, imari ware was thrust into the limelight of the international market as a product of the nabeshima clan of the saga domain. Because europe demanded identical replacements for chinese porcelain, many early pieces exported imitated the fuyode style and other styles from the late ming dynasty. The large volume of orders from the VOC led to significant technical advances at the hizen arita kilns, and the expanded capacity of these kilns made it possible to produce many jinko tsubo（agarwood jar）. The exported porcelains varied widely in shape. Even considering this, it is clear that the expansion of trade with the VOC contributed to the significant flourishing of imari ware. When the qing dynasty lifted the qian-jie-ling（order blocking maritime traffic and trade）in 1684, exports of chinese porcelain resumed, and from around 1712, exports boomed. Chinese porcelain once again regained its dominant position in the market. As a result, imari ware lost out in market competition with chinese porcelain, which boasted quality, quantity, and low prices. China overwhelmingly outnumbered japan in the total number of porcelain exported through trade with the VOC. The establishment of meissen, the first porcelain kiln in europe, in 1710 contributed to the gradual decline of porcelain exports from asia. The official japanese porcelain trade ended in 1757 with a mere 300 pieces and then was left to private trade by the trading houses.
Events Related to the VOC
- 1602（Keicho7）：Establishment of the dutch east india company（VOC）.
- 1609（Keicho14）：Establishment of the dutch trading post in hirado.
- 1641（Kanei18）：Relocation of the dutch trading post to dejima, nagasaki.
- 1644（Kanei21）：End of porcelain exports from china to the VOC, following a decline in porcelain exports beginning in about 1640.
- 1650（Keian3）：Beginning of export of porcelain from japan as a replacement for chinese porcelain.
- 1651（Keian4）：Beginning of exports to chinese merchants in addition to dutch merchants, where imari ware was acquired by the dutch and chinese alike.
- 1653（Shoo2）：Signing of export agreement with VOC for imari ware, beginning their export. Records remain of these trades.
- 1659（Manji2）：Beginning of full scale export of blue and white porcelains, including fuyoude, etc., after receiving a large order（approx. 56,700 pieces）of imari ware from the VOC.
- 1661（Kanbun1）：Prohibition of chinese porcelain exports in the qing dynasty following the qian-jie-ling proclamation.
- 1684（Jokyo1）：Resumption of exports of chinese porcelain after the lifting of the qian-jie-ling proclamation.
- 1710（Hoei7）：Establishment of a porcelain factory in meissen, germany.
- The Shotoku era（1711-16）：Tightening of restrictions on foreign trade, leading to a halving of the number of dutch and chinese ships arriving at dejima. Thus, porcelain exports also began to decline.
- 1725（Kyoho10）：Stagnation of trade between japan and the VOC.
- 1757（Horeki7）：End of official porcelain trade after only 300 pieces according to the VOC records, thereafter relegated to private trade by the trading houses.
- 1799（Kansei10）：Dissolution of the VOC.