A Pair of Large 19th Century Imari Vases

A pair of large scale 19th century Imari porcelain vases, the bodies with geometric and floral patchwork decoration, set with cartouches depicting courtiers and birds of paradise in red green, blue, and gold glazes on a white ground.

This pair of vases was made at the end of the 19th century in Japan, shortly after the Emperor opened his ports to foreign trade. By 1867 the kilns of Arita were producing porcelain for export to the West and pieces such as this pair of vases had become immensely fashionable with European and American collectors.