STOCKSPRING ANTIQUES
London W8 4BH; www.antique-porcelain.co.uk;
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The Dragon and the Quail -
English Kakiemon Porcelain
Internet Loan Exhibition
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| Bird Patterns |
| The Japanese mythical bird was the ho-o (feng-huang in Chinese), which
represented the Emperor. It was interpreted by Europeans as a phoenix.
Many Kakiemon patterns depicted a Chinese pheasant, which also had a long
tail, and as Europeans did not discriminate between them, any long tailed
exotic bird on English porcelain tended to be called a "ho-ho" (from ho-o)
bird. |
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Exhibits 56, 55 and 62
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55. Dish
Japan, Arita c.1700
Square fuku mark D. 21.7cm, 8.5"
Burghley House Collection
Of decagonal form decorated in underglaze blue and enamels with two
pheasants, a prunus tree and tied rice sheaves beneath a meandering leaf
border with brown line rim (fuchi-beni). The rim on the reverse has undulating
foliage.
This meandering leaf border is used on the Chelsea Quail plate, and
on the Bow "Two Quail" pattern.
56. Dish
Chelsea c.1753 D. 19.5cm, 7.6"
Of decagonal indented form, the decoration en suite with the above.
This is a very close copy of the Japanese. This is probably the "wheatsheaf
and pheasant" pattern mentioned in the 1755 and 1756 Chelsea Sale catalogues.
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Exhibits 61, 57, 60 and 58
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57. Bowl
Japan, Arita c.1700 D. 11cm, 4.25"
Robert McPherson
Decorated on each side with a circular phoenix motif alternating with
sprays of prunus blossom.
58. Jar
Chinese, Fujian c.1700-20, decorated in Europe c.1730-40 H. 10cm, 4"
Of globular form with dragon handles and on three paw feet, enamelled
with the "Two Quail" pattern on one side and a circular phoenix on the
other.
Provenance:- Bernard Watney Collection
The enamels on this jar are very close to those found on Limehouse
pieces, suggesting they originated from the same decorating workshop.
59. Plate
Chelsea c.1753-5
Red Anchor mark D. 23.5cm, 9.25"
Stockspring Antiques
With shaped rim, painted with a pheasant perched on a prunus branch
beside bamboo, within an elaborate border.
For a very similar Japanese plate with identical border, see
Williams, "The Kakiemon Influence of European Porcelain", no.66.
60. Dish
Japan, Arita c.1700 D. 14.5cm, 5.75"
Of scalloped form decorated with a phoenix (ho-ho) flying beside two
banded hedges with flowering prunus and bamboo.
61. Teapot
Chelsea c.1750-52 H. 14.5cm, 5.75"
Of hexagonal form with straight spout and loop handle, with two banded
hedges, flowering prunus issuing from one, bamboo from the second, and
with a phoenix flying above a flowering bush on the reverse.
This design is very close to the Japanese original.
62. Dish
Chelsea c.1753
Red Anchor mark D. 21cm, 8.25"
Of lobed form, painted with a pheasant on a rock amongst flowers with
a phoenix in flight above, within a leaf scroll border and brown line rim.
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| Exhibits 63, 59 and 64 |
63. Beaker
Chelsea c.1747-49 H. 7.2cm, 2.8"
Of lobed form, decorated on the front with a Chinese pheasant (ho-ho
bird) perched on a rock amongst peonies with a phoenix in flight on the
reverse, beneath a brown line rim.
64. Jug
Worcester c.1770
Square seal mark H. 11cm, 4.25"
Of faceted sparrow beak form painted with a pheasant (ho-ho bird) on
rockwork beside a flowering shrub.
On Worcester this is known as the "Joshua Reynolds" pattern.
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Exhibit 65
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65. Pair of Cornucopia Vases
Vauxhall c.1755-60 H. 12cm, 4.75"
Provenance:- Rous Lench Collection.
Of faceted form painted with a pheasant (ho-ho bird) on rockwork beside
a flowering shrub. |
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Exhibits 67 and 68
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66. Dish
Bow c.1752-55
Square seal mark after a fuku mark W. 15.5cm, 6.1"
Of square form with indented corners decorated in underglaze blue and
enamels with a rooster and a hen in the well, two dragons among clouds
alternating with formal lotus sprays on the sides, and scrolling foliage
on the reverse.
Provenance:- Adams Collection.
This is a very close copy of a Japanese original - see "Porcelain for
Palaces" pl. 129.
67. Butter Tub and Cover
Meissen c.1738-40
Underglaze blue crossed swords inside and imp.23 outside D. 21.1cm,
8.25"
Of shallow form with ribbed sides and two pierced upright handles,
the flat cover with a pineapple finial. Painted on the cover are a red
crane by a trellis and a flowering plant, flying above is a blue crane,
with two flowering branches; a buterfly and foliage are around the sides.
Modelled after a wooden original, the shape copied at Bow.
For the Japanese original see Nishida, "Kakiemon", pl. 55.
68. Dish
Derby c.1770
Blue enamel crossed swords mark D. 20cm, 8"
Decorated with two cranes, a trellis and flowering plants, with a brown
line rim.
A direct copy of the Meissen design as above.
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Exhibits 69, 70 and 66
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69. Dish
Japan, Arita c.1680-1700 D. 18.5cm, 7.25"
Stockspring Antiques
Circular, painted in underglaze blue in late Ming style with a long
tailed bird amongst peonies, another flying above, the border with scrolling
chrysanthemum. The underside has a foliate meander.
70. Plate
Chelsea c.1755
Underglaze blue anchor mark D. 23cm, 9"
The rim with five lobes, painted in underglaze blue with two long tailed
birds perched on rocks oppposite a bamboo, with a border of plans growing
from rockwork. |
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