Height: 17.3 cm, Mouth Diameter: 4.2 cm, Base Diameter: 6.3 cm
This piece clearly imitates a small blue-and-white porcelain bottle with a ring handle from the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. Due to its small size, it is used as a scoop holder for tea ceremonies, such as for the “chōban” style. There are no pieces of this style in the Xiangrui collection; therefore, it is odd that the lid of the accompanying box is inscribed with “Xiangrui Ring-Handle Scoop Holder.” Its form, including the dragon depicted on the front of the body and the phoenix on the side, faithfully captures the Wanli style. The handles attached to the left and right are so-called “elephant ears,” shaped like elephants, with circular rings fitted into them for decorative effect. Inside the footring, the inscription “Made in Japan during the Eiraku era” is written within a double circle, and on the underside of the box lid, “Made by Hozon” is inscribed.
