Edo Ko-Imari Brocade Charger

Japanese porcelain charger, c. 1720.
 
Dimensions: Approximately 11⅞” diameter.
 
Decoration: 
The charger is primarily decorated with an elaborate overall design of arabesques and flowers with three cartouches with birds on tree branches.
 
In the center is a traditional design of a flower basket (“hanakago-de”).
 
The reverse is decorated with red and gold flowers on branches.
 
The base bears five kiln spurs.
 
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:
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 rubbing to enamels and gilding, otherwise in excellent condition consistent with age and usage. Please examine the photos; they are part of the description.