A large Imari porcelain vase and cover

Edo period, late 17th – early 18th century, Japan

Height: 66 cm, 26 inches. Diameter: 50 cm, 20 inches

A high shouldered baluster jar with domed cover and gilt knob. The body is richly decorated in the Imari palette with an underglaze blue ground and over glaze enamels in red, green, yellow and gilt. Two quatrefoil panels contain landscape scenes, while further vertical poem-slip shaped panels are painted with blossoms, all against a background of chrysanthemum and peony flowers intersected by stylised cloud patterns decorated with light under glaze blue floral diapers, all in red and gold on an inky under glaze blue ground.

The shoulder is decorated with a band of blossom and scrolling foliage in iron red and gilding. While a band of peonies scrolls decorates both the neck and foot.

The cover depicts similar scenes as the body.

Similar Examples

A jar of similar shape is illustrated in John Ayers et al., Porcelain for Palaces: The Fashion for Japan in Europe 1650-1750, London, 1990, p. 217, no. 226

A similar design is illustrated in John Ayers et al., Porcelain for Palaces: The Fashion for Japan in Europe 1650-1750, London, 1990, p. 215, no. 223.