Pair of Japanese Arita blue and white ewers, c.1680, Edo period, of ovoid form with loop handles, each decorated to the lower bulbous with three panels; the first with two men in a mountainous landscape, one standing with a parasol and a fan, the other with a closed parasol and a dog; the second with cranes in a landscape with trees and rocks, the third with various birds in a landscape with a pavillion and mountains visible in the background; all against a ground of dense karakusa scroll with lotus heads; the tapering necks with peony, stylised leaves and scrolling foliage, the rims with a band of lappets and small spouts, the handles decorated with further karakusa scroll and pierced for a cover.
Dimensions:
Height: 23cm. (9 1/16in.)
Condition:
One ewer with crack to base of handle neatly restored.
Notes:
Very similar ewers can be found in the collections of the British Museum (Franks.1693) and the Rijksmuseum (AK-RBK-1972-240). Another similar example can be found in the collection of The Museum Het Koopmanshus (Franeker, C 580) and is illustrated in Jorg, Christiaan, Fine and Curious: Japanese Export Porcelain in Dutch Collections, Hotei: Amsterdam, 2003
