Figure of goddess Kakiemon; Japan, 19th century.

Kakiemon goddess figure; Japan, 19th century.
Glazed porcelain.
Measurements: 37 x 25 x 12 cm.

This sculpture is part of the Kakiemon style, Arita pieces characterized by a very white porcelain paste, called "nigoshide" or opaque white, and by its feldspathic glazes, very transparent and colorless, without bluish tints. The glazes are applied over the glaze, and will be green, cobalt blue (on or under the glaze), red, yellow, turquoise and black. As in China, the black glaze was applied under another glaze, usually green, in order to fix it properly. The term designating this style refers to Saikada Kakiemon (1596-1666), who learned the secrets of enameling from a Chinese master in Nagasaki and developed a peculiar, all-Japanese style in the village of Nangawara, near Arita. Production began around 1660 and continued until the first half of the 18th century, around 1730. It will be the most popular oriental style in the West, in great demand since its creation.