Antique Japanese Kutani Aka-e Export Ewer Pitcher Peony Bamboo Handle Meiji 9 Inch

Japanese Kutani Aka-e Export Ewer Pitcher Peony Bamboo Handle Meiji 9 Inch

Japan, Meiji period, c. 1868–1912

Approx. 9 in. H (23 cm); Weight:

A large and shapely Kutani (九谷) export ewer in the Western pitcher form, produced for the European and American market during the height of the Meiji-era Japonisme trade. The generous pear-shaped body rises to a high arching trilobed spout, the whole carried by a boldly modeled bamboo-node handle (take-gata, 竹形) finished in the same iron-red ground as the body — each node articulated with convincing sculptural detail. The surface is organized as large flowing white reserve cartouches on a rich iron-red ground, each panel painted in the kachō-ga (花鳥画) bird-and-flower tradition: botan (牡丹, peony) in full bloom with mixed seasonal foliage rendered in iron-red, warm grey, amber, and gold. The cartouche borders follow the Kutani scrolling cloud form (kakiwari, 掻き割り), and the iron-red ground carries fine gold arabesque throughout. The interior is finished in plain white glaze. The spout, handle, and foot ring are banded in the characteristic Kutani iron-red, unifying the composition with confident authority.

Condition: Good overall; iron-red and gold decoration intact with strong color. Some light crazing to the iron-red ground glaze consistent with age. No chips or cracks to the body noted. Minor wear to the bamboo handle nodes — confirm up close.

A handsome and generously scaled Meiji Kutani ewer — the bamboo handle and trilobed spout are distinctive form elements, and the flowing cartouche floral decoration represents the style at its most confident. An unusual piece in excellent display scale.