A pair of imari porcelain roosters

18th century, Edo period, Japan

Height: 26cm 10.24 inches

Each rooster sits with beak open and tail feathers erect on a hollow base modelled as a rock or tree trunk overgrown with modelled fungus and plants. The heads of the birds are mainly in shades of red with gilt beaks and black dotted eyes. Their feathers are finely incised and painted in red. The tails and wings are decorated in an array of colours including underglaze blue, iron red, green, black and gold. A corresponding colour palette is used on the bases.