Very Unusual Japanese SumidaGawa Pottery Vase with Goats

Description

Very Unusual Japanese Sumida Gawa Pottery Vase with Goats, Meiji Period The vase is formed in a broad cylindrical body with rounded shoulder and a wide circular mouth with a thick rim. The upper section is covered in a deep flowing glaze in tones of purple, blue, and dark brown that descends in irregular drips over the shoulder. Beneath the glaze the main body is finished in a matte red ground with horizontal turning lines visible across the surface. Around the lower body appears a continuous sculptural scene composed of applied three dimensional goat figures modeled in relief. The goats are shown walking across uneven rock formations attached to the vessel wall. Each figure is dressed in short garments rendered in green, blue, and white glazes with painted cobalt patterns. Some goats carry small bundles on their backs while others gesture with raised arms or walking sticks. Additional molded elements including lotus buds and rock fragments appear between the figures. A small white reserve on the lower body contains a blue seal mark. The underside shows the circular foot with a red interior and visible firing marks. The vase bears the seal of Ishiguro Koko. The mark appears in cobalt blue within a molded reserve near the base. Ishiguro Koko is associated with Sumida Gawa pottery production in Tokyo and is recorded as one of the makers working in the Asakusa district during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The presence of the seal confirms the workshop attribution. The condition shows age wear consistent with ceramic objects of this type. Sumida Gawa pottery is a type of Japanese ceramic ware named after the Sumida River near the Asakusa pottery district in Tokyo. The style is known for bold color contrasts, thick flowing glazes, and sculptural relief decoration attached to the vessel surface. Many examples depict human figures, animals, or narrative scenes in applied modeling. This example follows that tradition through its strong glaze contrasts and extensive sculptural relief. Goats are rarely encountered as the primary subject in Sumida Gawa decoration, making this composition unusual within the group.

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