A pair of roosters. Japan, Arita, late 17th c.

The head of the roosters slightly raised and turned, with bulging and alert eyes, a modelled crown and wattle, an open beak to show its tongue, finely incised plumage, wings to the side, an upturned and incised feather tail and their feet attached to an irregularly shaped base. They are painted in overglaze polychrome enamels and gold, the head in a light orange enamel and the plumage occasionally decorated with splotches of black, red and aubergine over the white glazed body and chest. The wings are outlined to simulate plumage and painted in green, aubergine and red. The inside of the figure and the base are unglazed.

COUNTRY : Japan (Arita)
PERIOD : Edo period (1615-1868), late 17th century
MATERIAL : Porcelain
SIZE : 22 cm
REFERENCE : E226
STATUT : sold
Related works :

An identical pair of cockerels with gilt-bronze mounts is in the English Royal Collection and was listed in 1866 Windsor Castle inventory as placed in the Queen’s Drawing Room[1]. They were probably acquired by George IV, King of England (1762-1830).

Another pair is in a private collection with rocaille gilt bronze mounts[2].

[1] John Ayers, Chinese and Japanese Works of Art in the Collection of Her Majesty The Queen: Volume II, p. 654, nos. 1527-1528

[2] Paris, 2020

Additonal informations :

In Japan, the rooster is an auspicious creature symbolises five virtues: civil culture, martial qualities, courage, benevolence and trustworthiness. Additionally, it is also a symbol of masculine strength on account to its fighting spirit[1].

The rooster has a religious significance, as its crow is said to drive away the night and the evil powers of darkness and herald a new day[2].

[1] Okimono: Japanese Porcelain Figures from the Edo Period, Jorge Welsh Research & Publishing, 2022, p. 256.

[2] Lea Baten, Japanese Animal Art, Shufunotomo Co, 1989, p. 72