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Subject:Japanese Blue & White Pot with Scholars Motif
Posted By: Bill H Sun, Jan 18, 2015 IP: 98.71.212.2
I've recently acquired an interesting piece of unmarked Japanese blue & white porcelain in the form of a waisted pot with lacquer cover. It is decorated with a procession of ten scholars, walking in pairs and engaged in what appears to be a ritual. Some are carrying what appear to be bamboo pipes, while others have what look like plaques or boards, among other items in their hands. There is some sort of metaphysical activity about in the sky with what looks like flaming pearls of wisdom.

My gut impression is that the scholars may be engaged in some sort of Confucian rite, but my time in Japan was limited to just a couple of short business trips, without time to absorb much of the culture and religion. I'm hoping some of our savvy contributors on Japan can help me fill in the blanks about the iconography and other aspects of the pot.

The piece stands about 5.5 inches (14 cm) tall and has a maximum diameter across the bottom of 7 inches (17.8 cm). I believe it may be a water pot for the tea ceremony, which presumption is based on having found other examples of such pots with the same kind of lacquer lid. A number of these pots were identified as Hirado, which along with the very clean looking biscuit on the base of this one also makes me think it may have been made at Mikawachi. However, extensive reviews of Live Auctioneers results and the Christie's archive turned up nothing else in this particular waisted form or decoration. Judging by characteristics of the porcelain and decoration, I'd guess the piece may be early 19th century, if for no other reason than almost everything made this well after the start of the Meiji era in 1868 seems to have been marked.

Here's looking forward to your help. I'll add some other images, including one of the bottom, after this is posted.

Thanks,

Bill H.







Subject:Re: Japanese Blue & White Pot with Scholars Motif
Posted By: Bill H Mon, Jan 19, 2015
A couple of more pictures as promised.
Bill H.





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Subject:Re: Japanese Blue & White Pot with Scholars Motif
Posted By: Bill H Mon, Jan 19, 2015
Two final photos of the decoration on this pot, which type I gather is called "mizusashi" in Japanese. I've also come across a few in the raku style that have a similar shape, but still nothing yet in the same decoration.

Bill H.





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