Early 18thC Japanese Edo Imari bowl and cover Circa 1700 -Superb Quality

Truly outstanding early Japanese Arita Imari Lidded Bowl of good size 16cm (6.5 inches) in diameter Circa 1700-1710 of the highest quality. Probably made for the export market there are very similar examples at many Museums around the world.

The bowl and cover is decorated with the classical Imari pallet of this period with . The remainder of the vase is decorated with the Imperial Japanese 16 petal chrysanthemums, peonies and other flowering shrubs in both underglaze and overglaze cobalt blue, enamels and beautifully gilded in gold. The gilding is in remarkable condition considering the age .

Japanese export porcelain vases were avidly sought by aristocratic and royal patrons to decorate their stately homes and palaces in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. This would have been an expensive item to purchase back in the early 18th century.

Japanese porcelains were prized for their boldly patterned and richly coloured decoration. The importation of Japanese Imari ware at this time changed European taste for Asian porcelain, with a more vivid palette preferred over the blue and white decoration which had dominated taste before from the predominantly Ming Chinese porcelain.

This is a wonderful example of a more than 300 year old ceramic bowl.

Condition: Some professional restoration to the cover which is virtually invisible. The item has been priced to reflect this repair.