Wucai Porcelain Bottle, 17th Century China Or Japan, Transitional Or Genroku.

The bottle is of an exceptional shape. It is made of hard porcelain covered with Wucai type enamels (5 colors), the cobalt blue is underglaze while the yellow and green are placed on the glaze in slight relief, as for the iron red, also painted on the glaze, is without relief which is usual. The decoration of a peony plant and a pine tree, both symbols of longevity. Although the shape seems to be typically Japanese, the enamels are closer to the Chinese wucai of the transition period (early 17th century) than to those of Arita from the Genroku period (late 17th century). The neck is encircled by a silver ring which is typical of a Vietnamese intervention, likewise the Chinese character engraved with the point in the glass is typically a Vietnamese intervention. This bottle was therefore created in the 17th century either in China or in Japan for the Vietnamese market. It was bought in Saigon between the two wars. This is a very rare form of which very few examples are known, and which are later or of much lower quality. Good condition. H: 87mm D: 105cm