Tenkei-Akae Small Dish with Design of Rabbit（5 Pieces / Ming Dynasty）
1,300,000Yen(Tax Included)
This is the masterpiece of tenkey-akae, which is based on a rabbit design, which is highly rated among animal designs. The brightness of the moon is colored in red and yellow, and the appearance of a jumping rabbit can be seen as the original form of early-imari fukizumi dish with design of rabbit. It is significant that the set of 5 pieces has been handed down, and their value has increased even more after approximately 400 years.
- Period
- Ming Dynasty
Early 17th century
- Condition
- It meets the requirements of the excellent work with its wonderful color and good firing.
- Description
- Paulownia Box（5 Tiered Box）
- A
- Weight：199g
Diameter：16.4cm、Height：2.8cm、Bottom Diameter：7.7cm
Condition：Excellent Condition（There are mushikui at the edge）
- B
- Weight：169g
Diameter：16.2cm、Height：2.7cm、Bottom Diameter：8.3cm
Condition：Excellent Condition（There are mushikui at the edge）
- C
- Weight：183g
Diameter：16.3cm、Height：2.9cm、Bottom Diameter：8.3cm
Condition：Good Condition（There are mushikui at the edge）
There is a chip at the bottom, but it is still in perfect condition
- D
- Weight：205g
Diameter：16.3cm、Height：2.8cm、Bottom Diameter：8.5cm
Condition：There are mushikui and crack at the edge
- E
- Weight：193g
Diameter：16.3cm、Height：2.8cm、Bottom Diameter：8.0cm
Condition：There are mushikui and crack at the edge
The colored porcelain fired at jingdezhen kiln mainly during the Tianqi era（1621-27）is called “Tenkei-Akae” and is highly rare as the total number is overwhelmingly smaller than that of the kosometsuke. As the nation’s power declined, the style of the jingdezhen kiln became disordered, but at the same time, generous designs and styles that were described as free spirited and light and stylish were created.
It is said that the rabbit’s jumping appearance brings it leaps, its fertility brings prosperity, and its habitation on the moon brings luck. The moon and rabbit have been familiar since ancient times, and have been known by nicknames such as “Moon Rabbit”. Even in early-imari, a moon rabbit design similar to the kosometsuke of the ming dynasty can be seen, and it is assumed that it was influenced by the kosometsuke.
As imported goods, they were luxury works of art that were in demand among the powerful and wealthy, and were especially prized by japanese tea masters.
Tenkei-Akae
Tenkei-akae refers to the overglaze enamels porcelain that were fired at the jingdezhen kiln in china, mainly during the late ming dynasty’s tianqi era（1621-27）. Colors such as red, green, yellow, and black are added to match the blue and white of the base, and the work is characterized by a free spirited style that is stylish and tasteful. During this era, with the fall of the Wanli Emperor, the jingdezhen imperial kiln was closed down, and the civilian kiln took the lead in production and sales. Potters who worked at the jingdezhen imperial kiln moved to the civilian kiln to make a living, leaving behind masterpieces that are reminiscent of the jingdezhen imperial kiln. Most of them belong to the tenkei-akae, kosometsuke, and shonzui. Many tenkei-akae works have glaze peeling off due to differences in the shrinkage rates of the clay and glaze, exposing the inner clay. This phenomenon, which resembles the appearance of being eaten by worms, is called “Mushikui（worm eaten）”. One characteristic is that mushikui（some holes）can often be found in areas where the glaze is thinly applied, such as the rim or angular parts. While this might be considered a flaw in ordinary porcelains, master of tea ceremony found elegance in this natural phenomenon and appreciated the rough taste, valuing it as an aesthetic effect.
Rabbit
It is said that the rabbit’s jumping appearance brings it leaps, its fertility brings prosperity, and its habitation on the moon brings luck. The moon and rabbit have been familiar since ancient times, and have been known by nicknames such as jade rabbit and moon rabbit. In china, rabbits and toads who create the elixir of immortality live on the moon, and in japan, rabbits make mochi pounding on the moon. The rabbit in the waves is based on chikubu island in lake biwa, and is associated with the noh song “Chikubu Island,” but it is also thought to reflect the image of inaba’s white rabbit, which tried to trick the crocodile and shark into crossing the ocean. There is also a legend that when Daio-Kokushi’s ship encountered a storm while returning home after studying abroad in the song dynasty, a white rabbit ran across the waves and opened a channel to save the day. The rabbit in the waves was known as the “God of Fire Protection” and had a special faith among potters who worked with fire. Even in early-imari, a moon rabbit design similar to the kosometsuke of the ming dynasty can be seen, and it is assumed that it was influenced by the kosometsuke. One of its characteristics is that kosometsuke rabbits have short ears, while early-imari rabbits have long ears and are cute.