10450 A pair of Japanese Arita Imari baluster vases and covers, the covers with lion finials and panels of underglaze blue scrolling decoration in reserve, repeated on the bodies with a continuous scene of storks among flowering shrubs. One cover matched, both covers with some restoration.
Japanese, Arita
1720
H 23.5 ins (59 cms)
£8,000 pair
Description
A large pair of Imari vases from the classic Edo period. The bodies are decorated with well painted scenes of white storks, emblematic of longevity and good fortune and Buddhistic lions as protection from adverstity.
These vases were made for export to Europe, largely through the ports of Holland, and then circulated throughout the continent. The bright colours of the Imari style were a popular relief after the blue and white of the 17th century and remained in fashion throughout the 19th century being widely copied by the English factories.
