Notes:
Example of this beaker that sold 9 years ago for £1,500 and it was chipped
A similar teabowl can be found in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (C.67B-1933). For an illustrated example of an original Japanese teabowl and saucer with the ‘Lady in the Pavilion’ pattern see Ayers, Impey & Mallet, ‘Porcelain for Palaces’ (1990), p.280, pl.328. The motif initially referred to a chapter of the Genji Monogatari, an epic 11th century classic work of literature written by a Japanese noblewoman, Murasaki Shikibu, which narrates the life, trials and exploits of Prince Genji, son of the emperor, while depicting in great detail the culture of Heian Period court life. The scene in question is from the fifth chapter, titled ‘young Murasaki’, in which Genji meets a girl named Murasaki who reminds him greatly of Princess Fujitsubo. The scene, in which Murasaki laments the escape of her pet bird, became a popular motif along with other famous sections of the tale, and has been illustrated and depicted on a wide range of Japanese art objects, including scroll paintings, lacquerware, folding screens and fabric design as well as ceramics. These Japanese wares inspired European interpretations of the design, with examples by Bow and Chelsea proving extremely popular during the porcelain boom of the eighteenth century.
