Fish dish

Japanese Porcelain Covered Tureen, molded as a stack of oval dishes with the cover topped by the figure of a fish with an open clam shell as the finial, decorated in famille rose enamels with scattered floral decor, h. 3-1/4", l. 9-1/4" for sale at New Orleans Auction Galleries on 9 April. 

Pair of Japanese Imari Porcelain Fish-Form Serving Dishes, 20th century, each decorated in underglaze blue, iron-red and gilt with details of scales, fins, mouth and eyes realistically rendered within the fish-form outline, h. 1-1/2", w. 6-1/4", l. 9", for sale at the St Charles Gallery Inc in New Orleans on 3 April.

Let's hope these are not the only fish dishes available from Japan in the coming weeks, months or even years.

A very long week

Title: Okuno-Hoshomichi Shirakawano-seki Fukushima

Artist: Saito, Kiyoshi, 1907-1997

Edition: 16/150 Date: 1965

Medium: woodblock

Dimensions: 15 x 12 5/8 inches

It seemed a very strange coincidence that I should be looking at auction items today and that I should come across this woodblock print of Okuno-Hoshomichi, and in this particular image, the path is to a shrine in Fukushima, the site of the damaged nuclear reactor.

"It was as if the very soul of Japan had itself written it".

Taking the long view

Today is the third anniversary of my blog. I thought I'd commemorate it with a theme of taking the long view. In the first two instances, I'm referring to enjoying the view outside of the premises we live in, and incorporating them into the experience we have inside.

These first two images are from the second floor of the castle in Scotland, where we are lucky enough to stay when we want a change of lifestyle. The second two are from the flat we live in more than 30 floors up in Bangkok, of the view of the Chao Phraya river, as it snakes its way towards to Gulf of Siam.

Unfortunately the picture above is now partially obscured by a new condominium development - The Sukhothai Residences, which is nearing completion.

In due course some of the panoramic view to the right of the second photo will be obscured by another condominium development. These changes are the price of progress in a developing country. In a landscape so flat the new additions actually provide a little bit of interest, especially as the new buildings are not too close, and their design and landscaping is easy on the eye. The idea for these borrowed landscapes is not dissimilar to that which the late David Hicks created at his farm in Oxfordshire.*my uploaded YouTube sems to have some audio problems, in which case click on the highlighted link above to watch it instead.

Sometimes blogging provides unwelcome challenges, but the reason to go on, to take the long view, is very much based on the interest shown by so many, and the comments that keep this hobby alive for me. Thank you to those of you who qualify.

And finally it seems only appropriate that I should use the opportunity to remember the terrible natural disaster in Japan, with it's earthquake, tsunami and nuclear explosions. But for this I am also taking the long view. In time these terrible events will eventually heal, although with the bombardment of 24 hour news broadcasting, and repeated images of the horror unfolding, it is hard to imagine how any country, let alone one with such extraordinary wealth, can overcome the difficulties it faces today. The stories are heart-wrenching, but also show the finer side of human nature, and the dignity and stoicism of the Japanese people.

Going green

From my resident Japanese correspondent:

A recent medical survey of Kakegawa in Shizuoka prefecture in central Japan shows the death rate by cancer is the lowest in Japan and total medical bills of its citizens is 20% lower than average Japanese cities!

The reason for this phenomenon is the consumption of green tea.

Kakegawa tea is slightly different from other teas in that it is double

steamed to reduce its bitterness which enables all the healthy

ingredients in the tea to be more easily dissolved, and thus more of them are absorbed.

The death  rate from heart disease is 15% lower, and from strokes 20% lower than other cities in Shizuoka which is the largest green tea producer in Japan.

The beneficial ingredients are:

Beta carotene: with antioxidants

Vitamin E: to improve blood circulation and the immune system

Chlorophyll: improves intestinal flora, good bacteria

 

In an experiment, a group of adults with slightly elevated cholesterol levels were chosen. After three months of green tea intake (strong green tea 600ml per day) and without any other changes in diet or life style, results showed:

LDL (bad) cholesterol was reduced by 9.02 on average

good bacteria in the gut improved by 10% in 10 days

Waist size reduced by 1.86cm

The trick is to grind tea leaves, making the powder that would normally be produced by matcha - our own Tea Ceremony, if you will. We began our own experiment nearly ten days ago, and will let you know how it progresses. 

Giving my own thanks

Today is the 25th Anniversary of my relationship with my partner. Cranes are the symbol of love and loyalty, so it seems appropriate to mark this milestone with images of a Japanese silver jar with engravings of one thousand cranes. The turtle on the reticulated lid represents longevity. I could cheekily suggest that this is fortuitous, given that it feels like a lifetime. I could also say how very inconsiderate it was of Prince William to announce his engagement last week, completely upstaging our much more momentous event; but that would be uncharitable, and in these happy times I'm feeling munificent.

But in all seriousness, I am truly grateful for these many happy years together, above everything else in my life. Last night we were preparing dinner for friends coming this evening to help us celebrate, and this activity was ably assisted by a delicious bottle of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Vintage 2002 champagne.

I think we might follow the very good habit of drinking champagne with several more glasses tonight.

Here's to love!

Roar art

Isidore Jules Bonheur (1827-1901) was the creator of these two bronzes of a lion, and lioness, below. They were recently sold at auction, but their prices probably reflect that they are more in the manner of than the real McCoy.

I have a genuine copy of the lioness, without her uphill plinth, and she patrols the entrance hall of my apartment. I am quite unashamedly declaring her duplicate status, as I believe good copies of famous artifacts work just as well as the real deal, which would probably run to many thousands of dollars.

The design of this area was kept very uncluttered, but nevertheless dramatic by its simplicity and starkness. The Japanese woodblock prints in rounded corner blackwood frames are C19th by Toyokuni III.

 

The white urns, vaguely reflected in the sandblasted glass, behind which is the office, provide a neoclassical contrast, paired as they are with two of the red lacquer Regency style chairs.

The front door directly faces the yellow lacquered square-within-a-square console. Symmetrical perfection.

Map Nav

Unframed Japanese woodblock color printed folding map, Meiji Period (1868-1911), entitled Kyoto fu-ku kumiwake saizu, a detailed map of the old capital and its environs, dated Meiji 18.7 (=1885 July), publisher notation lower left (some wear), 28'' x 19'' [unfolded]

Unframed Japanese woodblock printed map, Edo Period (1615-1868), depicting the capital (old designation for Kyoto), a reissue dated Tempo 14 (=1843.6), the city and surrounding famous places and temples each labeled, published by Okuda (some wear), 14'' x 18.5''

Unframed Japanese woodblock printed map, Edo Period (1615-1868), entitled Washu Nara no zu (Diagram of Nara, Wakayama [prefecture]), dated Tempo 15 (=1844.5), featuring the eight scenic spots, together with various other notable places, publisher notation lower left (some wear), 17'' x 22.25''

Having developed a taste for city maps, such as that much discussed in these posts, here and here, I was inclined towards these maps of Kyoto and its neighbour Nara, especially as Pigtown Design had found a copy of the Paris map on Kyoto University's website, and with my Japanese family connection, this seemed a natural progression. Sadly, I wasn't paying enough attention to deadlines and the sale has passed. In retrospect however, the condition of the maps is quite poor, although given their age, this is to be expected, and quite charming. I am particularly drawn to the coloured map of Kyoto, (top picture), which has a cubist/modernist quality to it.

Of samurais, geishas, gold and showers

The title of this post could easily be mistaken for that of a cheap sex novel, and this is purely intentional. However, it has no bearing on the content.

Kanazawa is renowned for its quaint architecture and paved streets, unchanged in many hundreds of years, not unlike its better known counterpart, Kyoto, but on a miniature scale.

Very miniature. There are essentially two areas with these old streets, and each of them the size of a postage stamp. The first is called the samurai quarter (pictures 2&3), and the second the geisha tea house area (4&5). Within 4&5 there are a number of shops of varying quality and interest, but the one that caught my eye is called Hakuza, which makes beautifully crafted woodwork with gold and platinum leaf applied.

This even extends to an area of the shop which is a replica of the Golden Tea Room of Hideyoshi Toyotomi (a C16th daimyo or warlord) which is covered in the gold leaf - 40,000 sheets of it, (top picture and inside, the second picture).

There were a number of rather enticing products, which were given varying degrees of consideration, including the usual clincher in our household - "let's think about it" - during which time I can usually talk myself out of it, or lose interest completely. Sadly for the shop's sales, this is what transpired.

Edo garden

Kenrokuen has the characteristics of a typical Edo period landscape garden. The original house and garden burned down in 1759. The restored garden was ordered by the 11th lord Harunaga in the 1770s, and his successor, the 12th lord constructed another villa, and asked that the garden be named. The name derives from the six attributes of a perfect landscape: spaciousness, seclusion, artifice, antiquity, watercourses and panoramas. I think the garden incorporates all of these charmingly, and strolling through them was certainly a highlight of our visit to Kanazawa.

After the abolition of the feudal system in 1874, the garden was opened to the public. It had formerly been the outer garden of Kanazawa Castle, (second last picture), which can be viewed from the last picture, where a short row of pretty architecturally-pleasing shops hides their usual tourist tat.

The embers of autumnal colours on the maple trees gave a welcome fillip to the threatening grey skies, which produced their worst the following day.

Dining out on it

The stopover in Hong Kong on the way to Japan wasn't a struggle when we are lucky enough to stay in this house, on the Peak. But that aside, it was a wonderful opportunity to catch up with our host, and with a parade of visitors who came calling. So much was the fun that the visit to Kanazawa was a rude shock to the system; well, weather-wise anyway.

More images of the Hong Kong house to follow.

Going East

We're off to Japan, to visit the historic city of Kanazawa in Honshu, (above is Kanazawa Castle),

via Hong Kong above. This C19th Chinese oil on canvas was sold at auction on Sunday for USD20,000, (a lot more than I was prepared to pay, considering craquelure, and the application of the canvas to board, making restoration difficult). In the same auction the picture below, of the Bund at Shanghai was also for sale, and achieved USD20,000. It too has restoration challenges, not unlike the Hong Kong picture. The auction details suggested it was painted by George Chinnery, but there is no signature, so it is doubtful.

A break in routine, a respite from the renovation project, and a cooling of the temperature, (both literally and figuratively) very much welcomed.

Wavering

This rather splendid gilt bronze rendition of a great wave caught my eye in the auction catalogue, and reminded me of Hokusai's Great Wave off Kanazawa, below.

It seemed particularly apt, given our impending visit to Kanazawa in November. Further inquiries however revealed that the piece has a number of obvious imperfections, as below, which would be difficult to ignore.

Unfortunately riding the crest of this wave has therefore come to an end.

Sakura

Whilst our spring has well and truly sprung into summer in Bangkok, and the blossom that we enjoy has largely blown away, sakura or cherry blossom is in full bloom in Japan, and at Himeji Castle, Hyogo Prefecture, one the three most famous castles in the country, sometimes referred to as White Heron Castle, because of its whitewashed exterior.

An ingenious maze-like entrance pathway was created to make approach difficult for invaders, and to enable them to be watched and attacked by the defenders.