A FINE SET OF VERY LARGE 18TH CENTURY JAPANESE EDO PERIOD IM...

Hammer

£2,400

A FINE SET OF VERY LARGE 18TH CENTURY JAPANESE EDO PERIOD IMARI VASES AND COVERS painted with panels of bold gilt sprays and foliage, the finials formed with coral ground lions scowling upon rocky outcrops. Largest 63 cm x 24 cm. (5) Note: Mari ware (Japanese: ????, Hepburn: Imari-yaki) is a Western term for a brightly-coloured style of Arita ware (???, Arita-yaki) Japanese export porcelain made in the area of Arita, in the former Hizen Province, northwestern Ky?sh?. They were exported to Europe in large quantities, especially between the second half of the 17th century and the first half of the 18th century. Typically Imari ware (in the English use of the term) is decorated in underglaze blue, with red, gold, black for outlines, and sometimes other colours, added in overglaze. In the most characteristic floral designs most of the surface is coloured, with "a tendency to overdecoration that leads to fussiness". The style was so successful that Chinese and European producers began to copy it. Sometimes the different overglaze styles of Kakiemon and Kutani ware are also grouped under Imari ware