Japanese Kutani Porcelain Figure of a Bijin or Geisha, Showa Era, 1930's, Japan

A lovely Kutani porcelain model of a beautiful woman, bijin, or perhaps a geisha, Showa era, circa 1930's, Japan. A charming and delightful Japanese Kutani enameled porcelain figure of a bijin or geisha, early Showa Era, circa 1930's, Japan. The elegant figure of a beautiful woman, called a bijin, or perhaps a geisha, is portrayed dressed in full kimono and holding a closed folding fan in one hand. Her kimono of a rich and deep blue hue, with images of plump pomegranates in gilt. Her wide obi of a striking red color, and patterned with branches of pink blossoms. One foot, clad in a white tabi...

A spectacularly glazed Japanese Kutani model, okimono, of a pheasant, Showa era, early 20th century, Japan. The okimono, or decorative sculpture, in the form of a magnificent phea...

"Late Meiji era Kutani vase, circa 1903. A beautiful porcelain blue ground centered by an intricate Geisha flanked by gold figural Foo Dog handles. Features a floral and foliat motif throughout. Signed along the base. Kutani ware, Japanese porcelain made in Kaga province (now in Ishikawa prefecture). The name “Old Kutani” refers to porcelain decorated with heavily applied overglaze enamels and produced in the Kaga mountain village of Kutani. The powerful Maeda family had established a kiln there by 1656. The clay bodies used were gray and coarse-grained. On most pieces—dishes and bowls were especially common—a white or blue-white matte glaze was decorated in dark, restrained colours, initially greens, yellows, and some reds, and later purples and dark blues. Some items had cobalt blue decoration under a white glaze. The most noted Old Kutani pieces are “Green Kutani,” in which most of the surface is covered in a green or blue-green glaze to which one or two colours have been added (or the glaze is applied evenly over a design executed in black). The bold designs of Kutani ware drew freely from Chinese ceramics, paintings, and textiles. They are renowned for their rich pictorial ornament executed in lively, intense lines. Owing to local financial problems and difficulties in obtaining the necessary pigments, the Kutani kiln was abandoned some time in the Genroku period (1688–1704). Ceramics production in Kaga enjoyed a renaissance early in the 19th century, however, including the establishment of another kiln at Kutani in the 1820s. In addition to a revival of the styles of Old Kutani ware, there arose a style using gold on a coral-red ground, which was perfected during another spate of activity that began in the 1860s. Technical advances were made and Western-style pigments were adopted, and by the 1890s modern Kutani...

From our recent Japanese Acquisition Travels- a big and lovely big 13 inch diameter hand painted bowl from Japan. Japan hard to find early hand painted ceramic lush "garden scene" serving bowl, circa 1910. Inside painting depicts elite individual with his attendants seated amidst a three some of cranes, plush patterns, foliage and seas. The exterior a dragon style...