Japanese Blue and White Hibachi with Double Gourds

c. 1850

$4,280

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Dimensions

H: 14.0" Dia: 21.0"

Materials

Porcelain

Purchase Quantity

Collection #

CCB004

Estimated Shipping

$250

Designed to hold glowing embers, hibachi vessels were used as a source of heat or for cooking in Japanese homes. Placed under a low wood kotatsu table with an open slat top, the hibachi functioned as a grill and created a cozy gathering place for the family. This 19th-century hibachi is decorated with intricate blue-and-white patterns surrounding a trail of double gourds, symbols of health, longevity, and good luck. Within several gourds is a traditional landscape painting depicting a small cottage, connecting the auspicious symbol to the home. Grand in scale and heft, this captivating hibachi makes an ideal jardinière.

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Blue & White Porcelain

Soon after its development in the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368 AD), blue-and-white underglaze porcelain became a favorite of the imperial court. Its broad appeal rapidly extended beyond China’s borders, becoming a lucrative export commodity highly sought after in Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.

Using cobalt imported from Western Asia, ceramic artists ground the mineral into a vibrant blue pigment that was then painted directly on a porcelain base, coated with clear glaze, and fired. This underglaze technique brought with it a shift in focus from the overall shape of a vessel to the skill and artistry traceable in its painted decoration.

Transcending time and taste, blue-and-white porcelain continues to be appreciated around the world for the intricate brushwork and brilliant blue color.