Rare Ko Imari Namban “Seaman” subject Octagonal Plate c.1800
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Directory: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Porcelain: Pre 1837 VR: Item # 1473022
Directory: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Porcelain: Pre 1837 VR: Item # 1473022
Please refer to our stock # EW3231 when inquiring.
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A very unusual octagonal dish in new style enamels dating to around the year 1800, featuring three figures, the main of which is a figure wearing a buttoned jacket and perhaps a klapmut style hat with distinctive slops, which identifies him as a seaman, rather than the more usual merchant; see last image no 6 a late 18th century print of a Sailor in “slops”. The tight curls of his hair betray his foreign origin, although he retains an overall oriental appearance. He is a tojin, a foreigner. In Japanese iconography an auspicious harbinger of good fortune associated with God of Good Luck, Ebisu. The small sprig in his hand is a small branch of Nandina, Nanten, literally meaning “Southern Sky”, so he is truly a Namban, southern barbarian. Curiously the other figures are “Chinese”, simply because the painter had no clear conception of what a foreign wife or child “karako” actually looked like, and so fell back on the usual conventions used for a foreigner. Other elements in the design play upon the word Kara, the Kara-hana brocades, the empty room, kara, also meaning empty etc. The reverse decorated with Kraak style panels in underglaze blue. The dish measures 17.5 cms in diameter (six suns) and stands high. The footring measures 10.5cm and stands 3.5cm high. It weighs 282 grams. The bowl is in good condition with no cracks, chips or restoration. Worldwide shipping included in the $ price. UK shipping included in the Sterling GBP price. £190 - $300
A very unusual octagonal dish in new style enamels dating to around the year 1800, featuring three figures, the main of which is a figure wearing a buttoned jacket and perhaps a klapmut style hat with distinctive slops, which identifies him as a seaman, rather than the more usual merchant; see last image no 6 a late 18th century print of a Sailor in “slops”. The tight curls of his hair betray his foreign origin, although he retains an overall oriental appearance. He is a tojin, a foreigner. In Japanese iconography an auspicious harbinger of good fortune associated with God of Good Luck, Ebisu. The small sprig in his hand is a small branch of Nandina, Nanten, literally meaning “Southern Sky”, so he is truly a Namban, southern barbarian. Curiously the other figures are “Chinese”, simply because the painter had no clear conception of what a foreign wife or child “karako” actually looked like, and so fell back on the usual conventions used for a foreigner. Other elements in the design play upon the word Kara, the Kara-hana brocades, the empty room, kara, also meaning empty etc. The reverse decorated with Kraak style panels in underglaze blue. The dish measures 17.5 cms in diameter (six suns) and stands high. The footring measures 10.5cm and stands 3.5cm high. It weighs 282 grams. The bowl is in good condition with no cracks, chips or restoration. Worldwide shipping included in the $ price. UK shipping included in the Sterling GBP price. £190 - $300
