19th Century Imari Porcelain Bowl with Bronze Mount

Details

Description

Imari porcelain cachepot/jardinière with gilt-bronze mount - japan, meiji period, second half of the 19th century

splendid japanese imari porcelain … Read more Imari porcelain cachepot/jardinière with gilt-bronze mount - japan, meiji period, second half of the 19th century

splendid japanese imari porcelain bowl of the arita type, mounted in europe with a refined gilt-bronze mount in the chinoiserie/eclectic style of the late 19th century.

the porcelain:
globular body with a wide-flared mouth and an eight-lobed mixtilinear rim. Typical imari decoration in underglaze blue, iron red, and gold with reserve motifs. The body features alternating large lobed cartouches with stylized peony and chrysanthemum flowers, flower vases, auspicious symbols, and geometric shippō and sayagata motifs. The lower band features a stylized wave decoration and a deep blue lotus head. The interior and inner rim are decorated with scrolls and chrysanthemum flowers. Milky white background.
at the bottom, in the center, is a hand-painted mark in underglaze blue with cursive calligraphy, as shown in the photo.

the mount:
a contemporary european addition, probably french, of great dramatic effect:

two vertical handles in the shape of a finely chased rampant dragon, with a scaly body and a proud head facing outward.
a twisted cord collar tied in a bow on the front.
a tripod base with an openwork band featuring rocaille motifs, acanthus leaves, and small rosettes, rests on three zoomorphic feet with a grotesque/lion mask at the top, typical of the eclectic taste of the 19th century.

the mount is not only decorative but also celebrated the taste for japonism in europe: an imported object was transformed into a luxurious furnishing item for the bourgeois living room.

style and date: imari export, arita, japan, meiji period, circa 1860-1880. Contemporary european gilt-bronze mount, circa 1870-1890.

condition: excellent overall condition. Porcelain with no visible chips along the edges despite its wavy shape. Light wear to the bronze gilding and natural oxidation in the recesses, confirming its age.

dimensions: h 20 cm with bronzes, mouth diameter 19 cm, diameter with bronzes 25 cm. See less