A JAPANESE ARITA BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAIN WINE BOTTLE

 

Arita, late 17th century

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Decorated with two birds, one flying and one perching, amongst peony sprays, on the shoulder a band of gadroons and two lines, on the neck four flowers and leaves.

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H. 24 cm
Content 2.1 litres

 

Note:
Bottles of this shape, with the flange below the neck to facilitate the tying of a (cloth) cover, and a bulbous body, exist in different sizes, some undecorated, some “Dutch-overdecorated”, but most Japanese decorated in imitation of early Ming style with birds, peonies and pomegranates. Some come with initials of known individuals, for instance: I:V:H. for Joan van Hoorn, Governor-General in Batavia 1705-09, and sometimes initials of his friends and colleagues, possibly presents given by Joan van Hoorn (personal communication, Jan Veenendaal who is preparing a study of the initials on Japanese bottles).

The form of these Japanese bottles is based on Dutch glass wine bottles and probably intended for wine or other (alcoholic) drinks.