Object Description
A lovely pair of late 17th Century / early 18th Century Japanese Artia Imari Vases and Covers.
Japan Mid Edo Period Circa 1700 (1680-1730)
A pair of Japanese Arita porcelain vases and covers, each of inverted baluster form rising to a cylindrical neck, the cover of domed form with a broad rim and surmounted by a knop in the form of a bijin holding a posy of flowers, the whole decorated in underglaze cobalt blue, rouge-de-fer and gilding with flowering peonies amid rockwork and reserves of Ho-o birds. In excellent condition only showing a professional historic restoration to one Bijin.
The Ho-o bird is a mythical creature akin to a peacock and sometimes referred to as equating to a phoenix. A Bijin is the correct way of referring to an elegant young lady. The often misused term “Geisha” should, strictly speaking, be reserved for the followers of a very specific profession. Porcelain was never made at Imari. The port city of Imari was the departure point for the ships taking exports from Japan to Europe in the 17th Century and after. Bills of lading and all paperwork would show “Imari” as the place of origin of the consignment and thus the term “Imari” became attached to the style of wares rather than its place of manufacture…..which was, in fact, the nearby region of Arita.
Width: 11 inches – 28cm
Height: 19 inches – 49cm
Depth: 11 inches – 28cm