A Large & Fine Japanese Porcelain Tokkuri (Sake Bottle) Kyoto Ware. Edo Period. Ex Christies, London.

Ht. 15 1/4 ins. (38.7 cms) This superb and impressive bottle is decorated in red, green, brown, blue and black overglaze enamels with gilding. The various decorative devices and motifs are largely in the form of shells, with seascapes reinforcing the marine theme. They are dispersed on a background of various diaper patterns reminiscent of Kutani wares. However, the pale opaque blue is usually associated with the Kyo-yaki wares of Kyoto. Underneath is a very obscure mark which has defeated our Japanese friends as has the shell-shaped panel of calligraphy. Such an elaborate piece was probably made for presentation.

The body has been broken into 2 parts and re-stuck slightly out of register in some areas. There is some minute chipping to the edge of the break here and there. There is a firing fault on the lip (see photos). We bought it at Christies London some time ago but the catalogue entry did not add any information to the above.

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