Japanese Imari 1690-1800 - 'Gold' Imari

Object 2011895

Bowl with cover and dish

Japan

1700-1730

Dish: height 35 mm (1.38 inch), diameter of rim 215 mm (8.46 inch), diameter of footring 112 mm (4.41 inch), weight 434 grams (15.31 ounce (oz.))

Bowl (without cover): height 70 mm (2.76 inch), diameter of rim 160 mm (6.30 inch), diameter of footring 66 mm (2.59 inch), weight 316 grams (11.15 ounce (oz.))

Cover: height 38 mm (1.50 inch), diameter of rim 134 mm (5.27 inch), diameter of ring 50 mm (1.97 inch), weight 161 grams (11.15 ounce (oz.))

Bowl on footring, steep sides, slightly everted lobed rim. Dish on footring, everted lobed rim, three spur-marks in a V-pattern on the base, the cover with ring and lobed rim. 'Gold' Imari, decorated in gold, iron-red and a light pinkish goldwash. The dish with a flowering peony in the centre. On the sides three flower sprays, on the rim hosoge-type flowers alternating with flower motifs. On the footing of the bowl and the ring of the cover a marubatsu pattern (modern Japanese for "naughts and crosses" or "Os and Xs")¹ The reverse is undecorated. The bowl and cover are decorated en suite.

This bowl, cover and dish are magnificent examples of the 'gold' Imari group. No underglaze blue or other enamels are used, the light pinkish wash lending sufficient contrast to the brighter red and gold.

The hosoge floral motif ('flower of precious appearance') has Silk Road precursors and a long tradition in Japanese decorative art. It is an imaginary flower with elements of peony, pomegranate and lotus. (Jörg 2003/1, p.117, cat.125)

For a similarly shaped and decorated bowl with cover and dish, please see:

Fine & Curious. Japanese Export Porcelain in Dutch Collections, (C.J.A. Jörg, Hotei Publishing, Amsterdam, 2003), p.117, cat. 125.

For a more elaborate shaped but similarly in 'Gold' imari decorated bowl with cover and dish, please see:

Early Japanese Porcelain: Arita Porcelain in the Dresden Collection, (F. Reichel, Londen 1981), p.108, cat. 79.

Condition: Some wear to the central gilding of the bowl and dish and three (glazed) firing flaws to the footring of the bowl.

References:

Reichel 1981, cat. 79

Jörg 2003/1, cat.125

Price: € 999 Currency Converter