Imari

Japanese Arita Porcelain (from the 17th century)

The term “Imari” refers to the porcelain produced from the early 17th century onwards in the Arita region on the island of Kyūshū, in southern Japan. According to tradition, a Korean potter, Ri Sampei, discovered a deposit of kaolin at the foot of Mount Izumiyama around 1616, thereby producing the very first Japanese porcelain. Its name derives from the port of Imari, a few kilometres from Arita, from where the wares were shipped. The most celebrated style combines underglaze cobalt blue, iron red, and gilt highlights against the white porcelain ground, adorned with luxuriant compositions of flowers, foliage, and ornamental motifs. In the mid-17th century, political turmoil in China disrupted the export of Chinese porcelain. The Dutch East India Company subsequently turned to Japan, and Imari porcelain soon captivated the great courts of Europe. Kings, princes, and wealthy merchants collected it as a hallmark of luxury and refinement. In France, the finest pieces were frequently embellished with gilt-bronze mounts, transforming them into magnificent objets d’apparat.