Japanese Blue and White Pear-Shaped Vase, Edo Period

Ref: W604

Japanese blue and white pear-shaped vase, Edo Period, with slim tapering neck, painted to the bulbous body with large peony heads and scrolling leafwork design against a blue ground, the foot with band of overlapping petals and two concentric rings

Dimensions:

Height: 23cm. (9 1/16in.)

Condition:

Good

Notes:

Tree peony, 牡丹 ‘botan’ [J] or ‘mudan’ [C], is not native to Japan and was introduced by monks in the 8th century from China, where the flower was also known as ‘huawang’, (‘King of Flowers’) and had been used in traditional medicine for millennia. From the Tang dynasty onwards, peony had been associated with royalty and high status owing to Empress Wu’s appreciation for the flower, and consequently was cultivated in imperial gardens. In Japan peonies were planted in temple and court gardens as ornamental plants, with Kyoto in particular becoming a centre for their production. During the 17th and 18th centuries, developments in propagation technique resulted in their widespread cultivation at sites across Japan. Their association with honour and good fortune contributed to the popularity of peony as a motif within the art and ceramic design of the Edo Period.