Page 83 - Bonhams Fine Japanese Art London Nov. 2019

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A KAKIEMON FIGURE OF A BIJIN (BEAUTY) Standing figurines of this type, admired as oriental curiosities in
Edo period (1615-1868), late 17th century seventeenth-century European palaces and grand homes, were
Standing and smiling with one hand raised to her breast and the other produced in press moulds in large numbers; the only variations
pressed to her side, her outer robe painted in coloured enamels of iron occur in the hands, which were slip cast and added separately.
red, turquoise, blue, gilt and black, her kimono elaborately decorated Remarkably, no two figures were painted with the same kimono
on the front with swirling streamers interwoven among karakusa pattern. Such ladies are commonly referred to as ‘Kanbun
(‘Chinese grasses’) and chrysanthemums floating on a meandering Beauties’, after the Kanbun era (1661-1673) when they were first
stream on the reverse. made, although the production continued right up to the 1680’s.
38.8cm (15¼in high)
The distinctive manner of wearing the hair pulled up in an elaborate
£8,000 - 12,000 topknot wound around an ornamental hairpin and tied with white
JPY1,100,000 - 1,600,000 ribbons was pioneered by ladies in the Imperial palace but was
US$9,900 - 15,000 soon adopted by courtesans, as represented by these figurines.
For the type, see Asahi Shinbunsha Seibu Honsha Kikakubu,
Kakiemon no sekai: Genryu kara gendai made (The World of
Kakiemon from Its Origins to the Present), Fukuoka, Asahi Shinbunsha
Seibu Honsha Kikakubu, 1983, pp.42 and 44, nos.44 and 46.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue. FINE JAPANESE ART | 81