An important pair of "Hampton Court" porcelain jars and covers
Arita ware, Kakiemon type, Edo period (1615-1868), 1670-1690
The hexagonal jars each decorated in underglaze cobalt, and blue, green, yellow, red and black enamels over a transparent glaze with figures, birds and flowers arranged as double-panel friezes: one with a hooded figure holding a fan and a branch of prunus, next to a flowering prunus and stylized clouds; one frieze with a standing crane, pine, a camellia, a flying crane, and blossoming camellia bush; and one frieze with a bird and bamboo, and a flying bird above flowers and rocks, each design separated by borders of wisteria, the shoulders painted with three large phoenixes at the corners against a ground of leafy scrolling vines, the neck decorated with fretwork, the covers European decorated in Kakiemon style
12 3/4in (32.3cm) high, including covers
