A RARE JAPANESE ARITA OKIMONO OF A SHISHI

A RARE JAPANESE ARITA OKIMONO OF A SHISHI
EDO PERIOD, 18TH CENTURY

The body of the mythical beast contorted as it lands on its front paws after jumping on a tree stump, modelled with its hind legs raised and baring its fangs with a ferocious expression, its body decorated with dark blue and white spots in overglaze enamels, 19.5cm.

Provenance: from an English private collection, London.

This unusual okimono seems related to other Arita figures of shishi jumping on rocks, usually decorated in more colourful enamels, as illustrated in C Jörg, Fine & Curious, Japanese Export Porcelain in Dutch Collections, p.282 no.356.