Japanese banko pottery fish teapot

browse these categories for related items...
Directory: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Tea Articles: Pre 1900: Item # 1448195

Please refer to our stock # 2017-475 when inquiring.

Click to view additional online photographs

GALERIE TIAGO
View Seller Profile
36 rue de l'Universite
75007 Paris - France
00 33 6 60 58 54 78

Guest Book

SOLD

Banko Pottery (or what is known as Banko ware) teapot, this is a very rare piece made in Japan circa early 1900’s. It is a clay piece made out of colorful hand painted fish. The fish wrap around the entire piece. There is a reed handle that sits on the hinges. You can see all the attention to details of the fish : you can see the lid comes off in the face of a little sole, a shell that is made for the spout. You can see a lobster, a crab, a ray. Most of fish have human faces, with elaborated eyes. The scales are also really detailed.

Banko pottery is a type of Japanese pottery, with the homonymous workshop, originating from Yokkaichi (Mie prefecture), in central Japan. Existing for 270 years, it was created by a rich merchant named Nunami Rouzan in the middle of the 18th century. He was passionate about the Way of Tea and wanted to create his own pottery to dedicate it to this passion. The name banko comes from the expression "bankofueki", with which he stamped each of his creations, and which means "constancy and eternity". With this signature, he hoped that his creations would be appreciated for many generations. However, his art was recognized long after his death; his workshop nevertheless endures. From the end of the 19th century and especially at the beginning of the 20th century, rather grotesque banko pottery was distributed in the West through the A. A. Vantine's store. It was located on the 5th avenue of New-York and specialized in objects from the East and the Far East.

Japan, early 1900's
Height: 8.7 in - Length: 6.7 in - Width: 5.5 in – Diameter : 2.96 in