Japanese Early Edo period Arita Bowl Circa 1760 with later Ormolu mounts 26cm W

Truly outstanding early Japanese Arita bowl with superb dragon handle ormolu bronze mounts. Circa 1740-1760.  Lovely quality. Probably made for the export market - there are very similar examples at many Museums around the world.

The bowl is decorated with the classical Imari pallet of this period with a stylised underglaze cobalt blue dragon as the central cartouche and garden scenes with Chrysanthemums, Peonies and other flowering shrubs in both underglaze and overglaze cobalt blue, enamels and gilded in gold. The gilding is in good 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 300 year old ceramic bowl.

An opportunity to own a rare example of the highest quality of Early Japanese Arita ware.

Dimensions: Width with handles 26.5cm(10.25 inches)  

Height: 16cm (6.25 inches)