Pair of Japanese Edo Imari Paktong Mounted Garniture Vases, Circa 1720

Description

A wonderful and rare near pair of first quarter 18th century Japanese Edo Imari garniture vases of baluster form having … more A wonderful and rare near pair of first quarter 18th century Japanese Edo Imari garniture vases of baluster form having silver-gilt paktong neck and foot mounts in traditional imari color palette of underglaze blue and overglaze iron red and gold gilding, the shoulders with unusual reliefs of a robed figure in rocky landscape with a rooster in heart-shaped cartouche symbolizing the sun goddess Amaterasu being lured from her heavenly rock cave by the roosters call; the rooster symbolizing courage and protection in Japanese mythology and Amaterasu the chief deity in the Shinto pantheon. In spite of the overtly 'Japanocentric' motifs they were intended for export to Europe by the Dutch and were likely mounted in the Netherlands. A beautifully presenting set but not perfect, please see the condition report below, however they're an early set of rare design worthy of collection. less