A HIRADO PORCELAIN ‘KARAKO AND PUPPY’ EWER

A HIRADO PORCELAIN ‘KARAKO AND PUPPY’ EWER Japan, late 19th century, Meiji period (1868-1912) Modeled as a seated boy with characteristic hair tufts, wearing a vest decorated with swirling clouds, the cover incorporated into the child’s coiffure, the spout formed by the mouth of a puppy held in his lap, a swirling ribbon collar providing the loop handle, the details picked out in shades of underglaze blue. HEIGHT 19.6 cm Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, few minuscule chips, and firing flaws. Provenance: French private collection. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related Hirado porcelain ewer at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 13 September 2017, New York, lot 1093 (bought-in at an estimate of 2,000-3,000 USD), and another at Sotheby’s, 24 September 2012, New York, lot 117 (sold for 4,063 USD, part-lot, together with another Hirado-type group).