Of pear form, the underglaze blue meticulously over-painted in The Netherlands
in the Kakiemon manner with the 'quail and millet' pattern*,
in overglaze enamels of iron red, turquoise, yellow, black and gilt,
each side with two birds before scattered iron-red outlined gilt millet and below a prunus branch, with birds above;
the scroll and flowerhead-decorated handle sided by bundled grasses issuing bamboo and prunus;
the front with a large underglaze blue flowerhead and leaves,
over-decorated with a gilt flowerhead center and surrounded by further smaller leaves flowerheads;
the upper and lower borders with whorled diapering or iron red and gilt heightening a blue ground and flowerheads;
the footrim with turquoise and iron red upright petals; iron red upper rim;
the verso painted with an untraced mark

The pear shape of this tankard is derived from a European pewter or stoneware model
and is common among Japanese export ware of this period.

*The 'quail and millet' pattern was first seen in China in the early 12th century,
where the fighting quail symbolized courage.
The subject was later taken up by court painters in Japan.
By the 17th century, the quail combined with grasses and millet represented autumn.
The theme continued to be quite popular throughout the 18th century, copied still in the Kakiemon manner,
first by the Dutch on their Delftwares; by Meissen in Saxony;
and by the middle of the 18th century by several English manufactories –
particularly Bow and Worcester ('Two Quail', and 'Partridge' patterns).

See Helen Espir : European Decoration on Oriental Porcelain,
pp 78-9 for further discussion and illustrations

Condition : The neck with a 1.5" interior glaze (only) line (shown below);
otherwise excellent, and with excellent retention of enamels and gilt

6.75" High x 6" Wide Over Handle

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#7211

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A Japanese Tankard of Pear Form, 7-1/8" High
Metropolitan Museum of Art, Edo Period, late 17th century
(The Hans Syz Collection, 1995)