Lot 050 A BLUE AND WHITE ‘FIGURES IN LANDSCAPE’ COVERED JAR (AN-GURE) MEIJI PERIOD (LATE 19TH CENTURY), JAPANESE REINTERPRETATION OF MING STYLE

Description

A BLUE AND WHITE ‘FIGURES IN LANDSCAPE’ COVERED JAR (AN-GURE)
MEIJI PERIOD (LATE 19TH CENTURY), JAPANESE REINTERPRETATION OF MING STYLE
十九世纪末 日本仿明青花人物故事纹盖罐
MEASUREMENTS
Max. Diameter: 20.4 cm, 8.0 in.
ESTIMATE
CAD 800 — 1,000
The jar is elegantly potted with broad, sweeping shoulders and a full rounded body that tapers gracefully toward the base, creating a dignified and balanced silhouette. It is accompanied by its original domed cover, surmounted by a classic “precious pearl” (houju) finial. The porcelain is solid and fine-grained, covered in a luminous white glaze with a subtle, characteristic texture. The exterior is brilliantly decorated in underglaze blue with lobed medallions (kaiguang) containing detailed narrative scenes of figures in a misty landscape. The surrounding ground, shoulders, and base are meticulously filled with geometric diaper patterns and scrolling foliage, exhibiting the sophisticated Japanese aesthetic of An-gure (Japanese reinterpretations of Ming Chinese blue and white).
此罐造型圆润饱满，呈丰肩、收腹之势，比例协调，端庄稳重。配有原盖，盖面隆起，顶设宝珠形抓钮。胎质坚实细腻，通体施白釉，釉色润泽。器身主体采用开光技法，其内精绘高士、童子于山水之间的人物故事图，笔触生动。开光外围、肩部及足部巧妙填充几何锦地纹与卷草纹，层次极度丰富，体现了日本制瓷工艺对细节的极致追求。此器为典型的日本仿明青花瓷（Japanese Ming-style Blue and White），在江户至明治时期，日本窑场通过对中国万历、崇祯青花风格的钻研与再创造，形成了其独特的装饰体系。
This type of blue and white jar, often referred to in Japan as An-gure or Shonzui style, holds a position of high esteem within the Japanese Tea Ceremony (Chanoyu). While the form and motifs—such as the “Figures in Landscape” and the multi-layered borders—draw heavy inspiration from Chinese Ming Dynasty originals, the precision of the geometric ground and the specific tonality of the cobalt blue reflect the refined mastery of 19th-century Japanese kilns, likely Arita or Seto. These jars were frequently used as Mizusashi (water jars) or decorative storage vessels within the tea room, valued for their scholarly “Chinese-style” (Karamono) appeal combined with Japanese technical perfection. Standing as a bridge between two great ceramic traditions, this covered jar is both a functional masterpiece and a significant object of cultural exchange.
此类青花人物纹罐在日本茶道界备受推崇，常被用作水指（Mizusashi）或重要的茶室陈设。其纹饰深受明代“万历五彩”或“崇祯青花”开光风格的影响，但其严谨的几何图案（如七宝纹、纱绫形纹）以及特有的发色，标志着其出自日本明治时期的制瓷名手。日本茶人对此类“仿明”风格器物（日本称之为吴须手或祥瑞风格）情有独钟，认为其兼具中国文人的高古气息与日本茶道的静谧之美。此罐保存完好且配有原盖，是研究东亚陶瓷文化交流及日本茶礼审美的珍贵实物。
CONDITION REPORT
• Condition: In overall excellent condition. The underglaze blue remains vibrant. The original cover and finial are intact. No chips, cracks, or restorations detected. Minor natural shelf wear to the unglazed footrim.
• 状况： 整体品相极佳。青花发色艳丽，原盖及宝珠钮完好无损。经检测无任何崩口、裂纹或修复迹象。底足露胎处见时代特征之极轻微磨损，保存状况理想。