A pair of colorful and finely-painted antique Japanese porcelain bowl with brocade pattern paintings with much hand work.
Each of the identical medium-sized deep bowls are decorated on the outside by a patchwork of brocade fabric designs using iron red, green, and gold enamels. Three panels have a shi shi (shisha) dogs that resemble a cross between a dog and a dragon. The designs are richly adorned with gilding. The lids have the same designs.
On the inside of both the bowls and lids are a central medallion with a florid border, a fabric border at the rim and a double ring between the other two borders. These are painted with a medium blue cobalt underglaze
Underglaze cobalt has also been used as a border at the bases of the bowls, and around the foot ring on both the bowls and lids. The feet on both the lids and bowls are unglazed. There is grit from the kiln on the edge of the feet on the bowls; less so on the lids.
The bases are glazed. The lids have a four character mark surrounded by a blue ring. The bowls are unmarked, except that one bowl has a character on the inside of the foot ring.
MEASUREMENTS
4 ¾” (12.1 cm) diameter x 3 ½” (8.9 cm) tall. Weighs 1 lb 9.9 oz (735 g)
CONDITION
There are no chips, cracks, or breaks. The gilding around the rims on both the lids and bowls is worn but the gilding on the exterior of the lids and bowls is largely intact.
There are light scratches on the inside of the bowls and lids. There are also numerous spots on the inside of the bowls and lids where the cobalt smeared before firing. Kiln flaws such as black spots and reserves are visible on the inside, but fewer on the outside.
A pair of matching beautiful antique bowls to add richness and substance to your collection.
