Footnotes

• 柿右衛門　色絵桜水に熨斗額模様打掛姿婦人像　17世紀後期
  
  Exhibited and published: Kyushu Ceramic Museum, Arita, Kakiemon: sono yoshiki no zen'yo: Heisei juichi-nen tokubetsu kikakuten/Kakiemon, all aspects of the style: Special Exhibition Catalogue 1999, p.42, no.52. For other similar standing figures, see Hayashiya Seizo, Nihon no Toji, vol.9, pl. nos.30, 31, 161-166 and Sekai Toji Zenshu, vol.8, pl.nos.49 and 50.
  
  Figurines of this type were oriental curiosities destined for European palaces and grand homes in the seventeenth century. Standing figurines were produced in press moulds in large numbers. The only variations occur in the hands, which were slip cast and added separately. Remarkably, no two figures were painted with the same kimono pattern. Such ladies were commonly referred to as 'Kanbun Beauties', after the Kanbun era (1661-1673) when they were first made, although the production continued right up to the 1680's.
  
  The distinctive manner of wearing the hair pulled up in an elaborate topknot wound around an ornamental hairpin and tied with white ribbons was pioneered by ladies in the Imperial palace but was soon adopted by courtesans, as represented by these figurines.

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Category: Asian Art / Japanese Art

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