18th Century Japanese Arita Imari Bowl with Dragon Ormolu Bronze Mounts, 1740

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A truly outstanding mid-18th-century Japanese Arita Imari porcelain bowl with elaborate ormolu bronze mounts incorporating magnificent sculptural dragon handles, dating … Read more A truly outstanding mid-18th-century Japanese Arita Imari porcelain bowl with elaborate ormolu bronze mounts incorporating magnificent sculptural dragon handles, dating to circa 1740–1760. Probably produced for the European export market, this exceptional piece combines richly decorated Japanese porcelain with highly decorative gilt-bronze mounts, reflecting the European fascination with Asian porcelain during the 18th century. The bowl is decorated in the classical Imari palette of the period. At the centre is a stylised dragon painted in underglaze cobalt blue, surrounded by richly ornamented garden scenes containing chrysanthemums, peonies and other flowering shrubs. The decoration combines underglaze and overglaze cobalt blue with coloured enamels and extensive gold gilding. The surviving gilding remains in notably good condition considering the considerable age of the piece. The porcelain is dramatically enhanced by the ormolu bronze mounts. Particularly impressive are the sculptural dragon handles, which transform the Japanese bowl into an elaborate decorative object conceived for a sophisticated European interior. Japanese export porcelain was avidly sought by aristocratic and royal patrons throughout Europe during the late 17th and 18th centuries, where pieces were displayed within grand houses and palaces as symbols of taste, luxury and international trade. Japanese Imari porcelain was especially prized for its bold patterns and intensely coloured decoration. Its characteristic combination of cobalt blue, iron red, coloured enamels and gilding offered a vivid alternative to the predominantly blue-and-white Asian porcelain that had previously dominated European collecting. The practice of enhancing valuable Asian porcelain with European gilt-bronze mounts further reflected the prestige attached to these imported ceramics and transformed individual pieces into luxurious decorative works in their own right. Now approaching three centuries old, this is an exceptional example of early Japanese Arita export porcelain, combining a beautifully preserved Imari bowl with highly sculptural dragon-form ormolu mounts. Period Edo Period Date of Manufacture Circa 1740–1760 Dimensions Width including handles: 26.5 cm (10.25 inches) Height: 16 cm (6.25 inches) See less