Description:

A JAPANESE KUTANI WARE COVERED URN
Meiji period (1868–1912), 1890s

Richly decorated in polychrome and gold enamelling, vignettes of Chinese court scenes separated by elaborate curtains, a child dancing freely amongst blossoms in spring whilst an imperial white elephant grazes nearby, the reverse showing the opposing winter season of a beauty in the snow, raised on three legs, the handles either side moulded as two phoenix, the cover with scrolling grass and floral design and finial shaped as a Shishi in gold, signed underside in red Dai Nippon Kutani Watano Seizo
40cm high, 30cm wide

OTHER NOTES:
Watano Kichiji hailed from Terai in Kaga Province (present-day Ishikawa Prefecture). His family produced and exported Kutani ware for generations through the 19th and early 20th centuries, opening branches in Kobe and Yokohama to be close to export trading hubs.

  • Condition: Inspected under both normal and UV light, the vase and cover appear to be generally in very good, well-preserved condition, with the raised enamel details to the main decoration intact and only occasional very slight points of wear to the decoration generally. There is some minor handling-related wear to the gilding on the phoenix handles and probably also to the shishi finial although any such wear to the finial is difficult to determine as this was always only partially gilt.

    For the most part the gilt rim of the mouth shows nothing more than typical scattered light wear the gilding but there is to one side a short passage (about 3cm long) of disturbance to the surface, being some sort of hard white residue (enamel?) which has, at points, chipped away taking with it very slight chips of the underlying porcelain. The cause of this is not clear but close examination, including under UV light, indicates that it is confined to the surface, not related to anything more substantial. The discoloration to the disturbance suggests it is at least some decades old, not recent.


    The opinions expressed in the condition reports are a guide only and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Prospective buyers are encouraged to seek further information or request additional images during our pre-sale period where Leonard Joel staff are available for advice. Please note condition reports can be amended during the pre-sale period, so we strongly suggest any interested bidders check the published condition report available on the website before the auction commences. Leonard Joel makes no guarantee of the originality of mechanical or applied components. Absence of reference to such modifications does not imply that a lot is free from modifications.

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A$0 A$99 A$50
A$100 A$499 A$50
A$500 A$999 A$50
A$1,000 A$1,999 A$100
A$2,000 A$4,999 A$200
A$5,000 A$9,999 A$500
A$10,000 A$19,999 A$1,000
A$20,000 A$49,999 A$2,000
A$50,000 A$99,999 A$5,000
A$100,000 + A$10,000