RESERVED.
An extremely rare and characterful pair of Kakiemon suiteki (water-droppers) modelled in the form of recumbent shishi (Chinese Buddhist lion-dogs), enamelled in a vibrant Kakiemon palette of green, blue and puce enamel, with black outlining and iron-red
Arita, Kakiemon kiln, Hizen province, Japan
Edo period (late 17th/early 18th century)
circa 1700
Description
Finely modelled, the beasts recumbent with heads slightly turned and raised in an alert pose, the eyes clearly cast and picked out in black outlining, both nostrils pierced (as double water-drop holes) and rimmed in iron-red above outlined lips baring canine teeth, the ribs indicated by a series of deep striations enamelled in puce, tight puce coils of fur at the spine terminating in a pointed iron-red tail swept to one side, each leg lined with a ridge of puce fur above the finely cast and moulded paws.
It is notable that the colour palette bears striking similarity to the two documentary seated shishi at Burghley House - featuring predominantly green and blue with puce being included, yet unusually the oft-used yellow enamel fugitive in both of these models.
Both models with unglazed, flat pad base and textile imprints.
Measurements & Condition Report
Shishi A (straight pose model): 14.5 cm in length and 6.0 cm wide across the base; excellent condition overall with virtually invisible restoration to the tip of the tail.
Shishi B (slightly curled recumbent model): 12.0cm in length and 5.8cm wide across the base; virtually invisible restoration to the tip of the tail and to hairline cracks running down from the base of the neck to the shoulder and back area.
An extremely rare pair of Kakiemon shishi lion-dog water-droppers, circa 1700
RESERVED.
For more information, please contact
BARASET HOUSE FINE ART
416 666 6295
info@barasethouse.com
www.barasethouse.com
Comparable examples
One other known example of Shishi A was sold Sotheby's (London) Japanese Works of Art, 19 June 2001, lot 307, described in the catalogue as "A Kakiemon Suiteki (Water-dropper) in the form of a recumbent shishi, each nostril and one shoulder pierced with a hole, painted in green, blue and yellow enamels with black outlines and small areas of iron-red". The catalogue notes that "while numerous Kakiemon models of shishi are known, usually sitting on their haunches, waterdroppers are rare." This single model - missing its tail - sold for GBP 14,300.00 / USD$ 20,000.00 including premium.
The smaller of the two models in the present pair, which leans slightly on it's right haunch with a curve to it's back, appears to be unrecorded, though it bears significant similarities to a smaller Kakiemon model illustrated in The International Journal of Ceramics and Glass volume IV July-August 1986. In this journal, Dr. Oliver Impey illustrates a Kakiemon water-dropper in the form of a recumbent shishi leaning on its right haunch with a curve to its spine, two pierced holes to its nostrils and a pierced hole to its left shoulder, with extremely similar enamelling and coloration to the smaller of the two present models. Impey, in his article titled 'Figures from Japan: A survey of export porcelain figures of the late 17th and 18th centuries Part 1: Animals' describes this recument Kakiemon shishi water-dropper, as a "smaller recumbent figure in another Kakiemon type palette of enamels....in the Philadephia private collection" (p.55-56, fig.17). Impey dates this small dropper (along with its pair from a different but related mould) to the late 17th century, and gives their measurements as 10.3 cm in length and 7.8 cm in length, respectively).
OTHER KNOWN MODELS OF KAKIEMON SHISHI WATER-DROPPERS
For a stylistically similar Kakiemon water-dropper in the form of a recumbent shishi, see Sotheby's (London) Fine Japanese Netsuke, Inro, Lacquer Wares and Ceramics, 1st June 1981, lot 359 described in the catalogue as "An Unusual Kakiemon Model of a Shishi reclining with its head slightly raised, an aperture on its back for a stopper, decorated in blue, green and yellow enamels and iron-red, the tail chipped, 15.5cm, late 17th century".
For a stylistically similar but smaller Kakiemon model in the form of a recumbent shishi, see page 108-109 Jorge Welsh "Okimono: Japanese Porcelain Figures from the Edo Period", described in the catalogue as "A small figure, moulded and modelled in the shape of a lion dog or a shishi, its head incised with curls to simulate fur. The head and tail are glazed in blue, its eyes are painted yellow, the cheeks and slightly open mouth are red, the chest is outlined in black, the back is decorated with red and green dots, and the dog's legs, which are tucked under its body, are green". Welsh goes on to note that "a similarly decorated pair of lions in a seated position mounted on a plinth painted with green karakusa scrolls is at Burghley House, Lincolnshire. Small shishi figures made in different mediums were also sought by Japanese clientele, as they were used as amulets to protect from evil" (Welsh, 108).
Another model of seated shishi in the same catalogue by Welsh and illustrated on page 104-105 shows a pair of Kakiemon shishi of very similar enamelling style to the present pair of water-droppers.
For a stylistically similar pair of cast-porcelain water-droppers see Christies (London) 12 May 2010, Japanese Art & Design lot 320 "A Rare Pair of Kakiemon Water Droppers (late 17th century) Modelled as karashishi and decorated in iron-red, yellow, blue and black enamels, 12cm. long"
A related water-dropper in the form of a kirin (mythical beast) was sold Sotheby's (London) 'Japanese Paintings, Prints and Works of Art' 16th-17th June 1994, lot 365 described as "A Rare Kakiemon Style Mizuire modelled as a Kirin late 17th century, seated on its haunches, facing forward, modelled with a heavy brow and quiff-like mane, incised with such details as scales and hairs, partly painted in iron-red and brown, black and blue enamel, the mouth and back pierced for use as a mizuire, 16cm high". The incised and moulded details on this small kirin model, particularly the tucked rear legs slightly raised on a solid pad are comparable in style to the present pair of shishi water-droppers.
For a similar Chinese Ming Dynasty model cast in gilt bronze see The Radiant Ming 1368-1644: Through the Min Chiu Society Collection, Hong Kong Museum of History, Hong Kong, 2015 which they date to the fifth year of Xuande.