TWO JAPANESE IMARI MUSTARD POTS AND COVERS

TWO JAPANESE IMARI MUSTARD POTS AND COVERS

EDO PERIOD, C.1690-1720

Each with a bulbous body raised on a flared foot and with a side handle, decorated with moulded patterns resembling petals painted in gilt, red, cyan, purple and black enamels, the panels enclosing many flowers, the foot decorated with bands of chevrons and lappets; each cover with a circular aperture and painted with further flowers, 9.7cm and 10cm respectively. (4)

Provenance: from an English private collection, London.

See J Ayers, O Impey, JVG Mallet, Porcelain for Palaces, The Fashion for Japan in Europe 1650-1750, p.206, no.202, for a comparable mustard pot. The authors explain that in both moulding and colouring these pieces are inspired by, or ancestral to Chinese famille verte wares of the Kangxi period. Also, see C Jörg, Fine & Curious, Japanese Export Porcelain in Dutch Collections, p.190, no.238, for a miniature example in the Groninger Museum, Groningen.