Antique Japanese
Antique lamps – Kakiemon – A History of Harmony and Balance
Kakiemon, pronounced Ka.ki.e.mon, is a question of balance a small range of distinctive colors (palette), pure white porcelain and an eye perfect harmony.
In the world of art and design, color is important, indeed, of paramount importance, with many specific colors bearing the name of their author. The palette of enamels Kakiemon sublime is a key example.
Kakiemon color gamut is small, but distinct, delicate, balanced and in perfect harmony. The palette is composed of red iron blue, blue, green, turquoise, yellow, aubergine, and gold.
It is the aspect of red iron range from which the story unfolds.
We must look back to 17th century Japan and the birth of Kizaemon Sakaida (1596-1666) founding father dynastic family of the famous Japanese potters.
It was Sakaida, working in the ceramics center of Japanese ceramics, Province Arita which, with a series of "firsts", which opened a new window to the world of ceramic art. The extreme delicacy, the body of a pure white (Nigoshide) believed to have been exclusive Kakiemon oven. It was undoubtedly not only a master potter, but could "see" colors that literally, as enamels, no.
Japanese art, with its long history, has always drawn its inspiration from the world of nature, with each change of season offers a new palette of colors and ideas. Kakiemon wares are usually painted with natural subjects, birds in the branches, flying squirrels, quail "and mil", grasshoppers, butterflies and insects in the garden. Very often are the "Three Friends of Winter "(Pine, prunus and bamboo), flowers, Leak, and covers bands.
Human subjects are rare, and some titles have been added such as "Woman and the Nightingale" and "Hob in the Well", a title given by England in the 18th century! The decoration is based on a popular design from the story of a Chinese sage who saved his friend who had fallen into a big fishbowl. The chrysanthemum, the national flower Japan is a very common.
It from this natural world Sakaida Kizaemon produces its "red iron" by capturing the delicate red and the texture of the persimmon (kaki) in porcelain. It is traditionally believed to have introduced enamel glaze on the porcelain in Japan in the 1640s and in recognition of his dedication and artistic achievements, he received the honorary name of Kaki-emon, or Kakiemon.
The family remains Kakiemon manufacturers china decorators and qualified, until today, with only the eldest son inherits the family name and special skills.
Kakiemon XIII (1906-1982) was designated as an important cultural treasure of Japan in March 1971 and Kakiemon XIV, born in 1934, the descendant of Sakaida Kakiemon 13th has been designated Living National Treasure of pottery decorated in July 2001
Kakiemon porcelain can be characterized by forms hexagonal or octagonal. An iron-brown dressing (Fuchi-Beni) was applied to the edges of many of the porcelain Kakiemon beautify and protect the rims to be chipped, white porcelain with colorless glaze decoration and widely spaced, placed with a perfect eye for harmony and balance.
The story is and always will be, like the tide, incoming and outgoing history Kakiemon is not exempt.
China throughout history has been not only the origin of the porcelain, but at the time, the source of porcelain, but in the early 17th century, imperial China was in chaos with the political crisis of closeting of the Ming Dynasty. The dynasty was completely collapsed in 1644 and production of porcelain for export to the West has stopped. It would be thirty years later that the production of porcelain Export would resume.
It was the Dutch who were then the great power of Merchant Marine commerce, which with a commercial port concession, exported large quantities of Chinese porcelain in Europe, all products in large kilns in Jingdezhen.
When production ceased, the merchant fleet turned to Japan. The Dutch merchant fleet was the only Western nation has allowed trade and port it to their trade on the island of Deshima in the port of Nagasaki. Remember that Japan was closed to the West in an effort to contain the influence European and only from these designated ports that exchange can take place.
In fact, the production of porcelain Japan had only a half-century of history before the Dutch East Indiamen happened. It was not long before the Dutch merchant fleet, responsible for Japanese porcelain were heading for Holland. The arrival of the "new" porcelain Japan has been a revelation, very little color porcelain was seen as most Chinese exports has been blue and white goods.
It was the 17th century Japans export porcelain record high with virtually no competition. Kakiemon however, was the most valuable and certainly the most expensive and was the preferred style in the princely palaces of northern Europe, and despite the price, the model was the most sought after by the rich and famous!
But the sleeping dragon awoke, and the chaos of China has declined with the establishment of the Manchu dynasty and the long and successful reign of the Emperor Kang Xi.
Jingdezhen kilns were reopened to large and successful company in china for export to the West began.
Kakiemon Japanese porcelain, with its exports to Europe, became the most influential decorative ceramics in the late 17th century forms, the decorative style and exquisite palette have been copied by every major 18th century European plants, including Meissen, Chantilly, Chelsea, Bow, and Worcester.
Kakiemon continued to influence European decor throughout the 18th and 19th century and is still be reproduced by manufacturers of china's most famous today. One of the great 19th century reproduction of "the Kakiemon was very skillfulEdmé Samson of Paris.
A beautiful "Samson of Paris" lamp decorated hexagonal Japanese style Kakiemon.
The six-sided shape adorned with three decorative panels Kakiemon stylish. A group with flowering cherry branches and enameled birds flying delicately. Group two with the mythical bird Japanese, ho-o, who represented the emperor. The Ho-o bird perched on flowering orchid stems in a stand of bamboo. Panel three decorated with a bird with pastel colors, dotted with pale lemon, turquoise and a touch of red. The bird, perched in cherry, flowering on old wood.
The three topics separated by decorative panels alternating "red", or scroll karakusa executed in the reverse technique. The red panel scroll work, cleverly enameled in iron red and turquoise.
The lamp stands on the original metal gilt hexagonal base and with the original golden cap, modeled as a chrysanthemum flower, national flower of Japan.
A very pretty lamp in Good Condition.
The lamp shown with a custom made pure silk lampshades hex.
Circa 1870
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About the Author
Maurice Robertson, principal of The Antique and Vintage Table Lamp Co, has had a lifetime’s association with antique porcelain and pottery, with his commercial experience spanning a period of over 45 years,including valuer to the Australian Government’s Incentive to the Arts Scheme. His long experience with antique ceramics and glass also includes dealing with leading museums and numerous international private collections. He has extended his ceramics expertise into the quality table lamps seen on the company’s site and is well known to local and international interior designers who have included many of his table lamps in their projects. He has also supplied items of national interest to the official Sydney residence of the Australian Prime Minister.
