Page 88 - Sotheby's London Fine Japanese Art Nov. 2019

THE PA LMELA K A KIEMON ELEPH ANTS

80
A PAIR OF FINE AND RARE
KAKIEMON ELEPHANTS
EDO PERIOD, LATE 17 TH CENTURY

each elephant modelled lying down with
upturned trunk and decorated in green, blue,
black and red enamels
(2)
13.8 cm., 51/2 in. high

PROVENANCE
Possibly Dom Luís de Sousa (1637-1690),
Portuguese Ambassador in Rome, Archbishop
of Braga;
By descent to his great-great nephew Dom
Alexandre de Sousa Holstein (1751-1803),
Count of Sanfré;
His son, Dom Pedro de Sousa e Holstein (1781-
1850), 1st Duke of Palmela;
Thence by direct descent to the present owner.
£ 80,000-120,000
€ 90,000-135,000 US$ 99,500-149,000
It is thought that the first real, rather than
imaginary, elephant was seen in Japan in
1408, when there is a very brief mention of
a ‘black elephant’ brought over from the
Nanban [southern barbarian] countries to the
court of the emperor Go-Komatsu, Nanban
at that date referring to the countries of
South-East Asia. This story is lent credence
both by Japan’s rapidly increasing foreign
trade in the early fifteenth century and by
Casa do Calhariz, Azeitão
86 Buyers are liable to pay both the hammer price (as estimated above) and the buyer’s premium together with any applicable taxes and Artist’s Resale Right (which will depend on the individual circumstances).
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