How this clever little elephant found its way from 18th century Japan to 21st century Vienna I do not know. It was made in the city of Kaga in the prefecture of Ishikawa on the west coast of Japan, a location famed for its brightly colored porcelains. Now, it delights visitors to the Museum of Applied Culture in Vienna. In the hands of a master potter, a grey elephant becomes an expression of joie de vivre, gaily decorated in red, green, and gold, trunk at the ready to pour, practically bouncing with steam. Elephants grow tall but this eight inch pup is already a fantastic creature.
6 comments:
Lovely teapot!
I suppose this piece is a Ko-Kutani
(古久谷）. 'Ko' means old. I'm really surprised to find this exported Ko-kutani piece because ko-kutani were made for demestic use.... Really rare and precious!
Thank you for sharing!
Sapphire, thank you. The MAK website noted that the teapot was marked "Kutani" on the bottom, but as they didn't clarify what that might refer to, I didn't hazard a guess. I found it unusual and charming, too.
"Short and stout" and sweetly proud, if I can say that about a teapot. I imagine the elephant with steam coming out of its trunk. My utmost respect for Japanese potters!
Imagine what a sense of occasion it would bring to pouring a cup of tea.
Hi, I am researching a teapot that my mother got years ago and found this post. Hers is identical to the one you show here but is not painted so colorfully. It is shaped exactly the same with the same ears, trunk, necklace, etc. It also has six elephant foot teacups that go with it. Can you tell me more about this? The one I have only says "Made in Japan".
Rick, according to information at the Museum of Applied Culture, such wares were produced c.1700-1867, before the Meiji Era, when Japan began trading heavily in export wares. I'm hardly an expert, but bowls were more commonly used for tea, so I wonder if the elephant's truck made this an attractive whimsey or perhaps there is some symbolism at work that a westerner doesn't get. Kaga- Ishikawa should be possible to research. Your tea set sounds charming. Good luck.
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