A very rare & characterful Arita porcelain model of a seated puppy, the white-glazed body enhanced with iron-red, black enamel & gilt patches, its neck encircled by an iron-red collar with a gilded bell
Arita kiln, Uchiyama district, Hizen province, Japan Edo period, Enpō era (1673-1681) to Genroku era (1688-1704)
circa 1670-1700
CONDITION
Generally in very good condition overall. A minor repair to the edge of the right ear, and wear to the gilding.
MEASUREMENTS
14.5 cm high; 14.0 cm long; 8.5 cm wide
DESCRIPTION
This early and charming model of a dog sits back on his haunches, his plump body supported on splayed front paws with finely modelled claws. His head is raised in an alert begging position, with carefully moulded eyes, nose and mouth outlined in iron-red, and small floppy ears in a submissive position. Around the thick neck, a three-dimensionally modelled collar is highlighted with iron-red and terminates in a large gilded bell on his chest. The short stocky legs, small curled tail and playful appearance give the look of an inquisitive and mischievous little puppy.
An identical model to the present Arita puppy exists in the Museum of King Jan III's Palace at Wilanow, Poland, collection number Will.2089, currently on display in The King's Library. The Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden records an almost identical pair of Arita puppies purchased by Augustus the Strong of Saxony and listed in the Johanneum Inventory of 1721 as "two seated colourful dogs with red collars and cuffs". They currently reside in the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, collection numbers po 4814 and PO 4815, described as "Two puppies, Japan, Arita, Edo period, 1670-1700; porcelain painted in overglaze black, iron red, aubergine and gold, height 14.6cm, length 14.0cm....the short stocky legs, the little ringed tail and the playful expressions suggest that they are puppies....[each] wearing a red collar with gold bells. The figures were produced using three different moulds; legs, head and smaller parts were made separately and applied."
STORAGE
With an antique Japanese wooden storage box and silk ribbons.
A charming & characterful Arita model of a seated puppy, c1670-1700
PRICE UPON REQUEST
COMPARABLE EXAMPLES
An identical model to the present Arita puppy exists in the Museum of King Jan III's Palace at Wilanow, Poland, collection number Will.2089, currently on display in The King's Library. It is described as an unusual and rare example of Arita craftmanship of the late 17th century. The Wilanow Collection contains a second similar puppy, with archival records indicating the the pair of late 17th century Arita puppies adorned the apartments of Marshal Lubomirska, in his study.
An almost identical pair of Arita puppies were purchased by Augustus the Strong of Saxony and listed in the Johanneum Inventory of 1721 as "two seated colourful dogs with red collars and cuffs". They currently exist in the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, collection numbers po 4814 and PO 4815. They are described as "Two puppies, Japan, Arita, Edo period, 1670-1700; porcelain painted in overglaze black, iron red, aubergine and gold, height 14.6cm, length 14.0cm"
A similar Arita model of a seated puppy was sold at Sotheby's (London) Pursuit of an Ideal: Fine Japanese Works of Art, 5 November 2021, lot 13: "An Arita model of a puppy, late 17th century, property from His Grace the Duke of Montrose".
An associated Arita model of a seated cat was sold at Christie's (London) Japanese Art at the English Court, 19 December 2014, lot 62.
An associated Arita model of a seated cat exists in the Collection of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts (USA), collection number 136206.