A 19th Century Arita Vase With Dragon Decoration
£2,800
SOLD
A late 19th century Arita vase of large scale, the collar and foot decorated with kimono patterns, the main body with dragons and mythical beasts in polychrome glazes upon a black ground.
This vase was made shortly after the Japanese reopened the country’s ports to international trade. Prior to this in the 17th century, an isolationist policy existed preventing any form of migration. Trade was limited to the port of Nagasaki where the export of Arita wears was permitted to the Dutch East India Company.
The vibrant colours in the glazes in this example are typical of fine Imari wares of the second half of the 19th century. The black ground is an unusual feature in Imari porcelain; typically the coloured glazes were applied to a white surface.
