Pair of Edo Period Ko-Imari Trumpet Vases

Japanese porcelain vases, c. 1720.
 
Dimensions: Each approximately 13¼” tall.
 
Decoration:
The mouth of the vase is decorated with red and gold flowers on branches.
 
The body of the vase is primarily decorated with an overall floral design.
 
At the top are two cartouches, one of a bird in a tree and the other of a Buddhist lion (“Shishi”).
 
The center is also decorated with two cartouches. One is of a Japanese phoenix or hoo bird and the other of a carp. 
 
The base is unmarked.
 
This palette is known a three-color Imari, underglaze blue with overglaze red enamels and gilding, and is the earliest form of Imari decoration.
 
The design is known as brocade (“nishiki-de”) and was very popular in Europe at the time. It generally consists of gold arabesques on underglaze blue with the addition of overglaze colors, in this case red and flesh.
 
References:
Gansu Provincial Museum ed., in “Imari, Japanese Porcelain of the Edo Period Exported to Europe”.
Impey, “Japanese Export Porcelain”.
Jorg, “Fine & Curious, Japanese Export Porcelain in Dutch Collections”.
P.L.J. Arts, “Japanese Porcelain”.
Reichel, “Early Japanese Porcelain”.
Shimura, “The History of Imari, The Symbols and Mysteries of Antique Japanese Porcelain”.
New Orleans Museum of Art, “Imari, Japanese Porcelain for European Palaces”.
The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, “Complete Catalog of Shibata Collection”.
 
Condition: Minor loss of enamel and gilding; otherwise in excellent condition consistent with age and usage. Please examine the photos; they are part of the description.
 
Please note that this is an extremely large and heavy item to ship.