Large Edo Period Polychrome Tokkuri

Japanese export porcelain bottle, c. 1700.
 
Dimensions: Approximately 11¼” x 4½ x 4½”.
 
Decoration: 
The sides are decorated with a design primarily of blossoming cherry trees, chrysanthemums, irises, and bamboo.
 
The shoulder is decorated in blue with a gold floral design and on each corner is a cartouche with each of the primary design elements.
 
The neck is decorated with cherry blossoms.
 
The base is undecorated and bears a red fuku mark.
 
The shape is derived from German stoneware or Dutch glass bottle forms.
 
The neck is trumpet shaped and does not appear to be intended to have a stopper. For Japanese examples, this style is called “Tokkuri” or sake bottles.
 
With the disruption of the Jingdezhen kilns in the middle of the 17the century, the Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie or VOC) turned to Japan to provide porcelain for the Dutch market.
 
This was primarily blue and white wares produced at the Arita kilns, but polychrome examples such as this were also imported.
 
By the 1680s, the Jingdezhen kilns were back in operation, producing porcelain for export in larger quantities and at lower cost than the Japanese kilns. Consequently, imports from Japan rapidly declined. However private trade continued into the 18th century.
 
References:
Gansu Provincial Museum ed., in “Imari, Japanese Porcelain of the Edo Period Exported to Europe”.
Impey, “Japanese Export Porcelain”.
Jorg, “Fine & Curious, Japanese Export Porcelain in Dutch Collections”.
P.L.J. Arts, “Japanese Porcelain”.
Reichel, “Early Japanese Porcelain”.
Shimura, “The History of Imari, The Symbols and Mysteries of Antique Japanese Porcelain”.
New Orleans Museum of Art, “Imari, Japanese Porcelain for European Palaces”.
The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, “Complete Catalog of Shibata Collection”.
The Saga Museum, “The John Coates’ Collection, A Collection of Early Arita Porcelain”, Third edition.
 
Condition: Professionally filled hole in base and a minor loss of gilding; otherwise in excellent condition consistent with age and usage. Please examine the photos; they are part of the description.