The most decorative group of porcelains from the Far East is the group of porcelain with a blue and white ground and accented with red, green or yellow enamels designs, The group named IMARI was named after the seaport Imari on the island Kyushu, Saga, in Japan, from where the porcelain first was shipped to the West starting at the beginning of the 17th century.
This bowl is a good example of Imari porcelain. It is decorated inside and out. The main design is inside the bowl - a Ho-Oo (phoenix) is contained with a circle in the middle from where sections radiate. Each section has a different design - a combination of patterns interspersed with cartouches of bird and floral designs. Although it sounds complicated, but the elements work together in an authentic "Japanese" manner. The inside top rim is a band of underglaze blue cloud pattern, and on the rim is a continuous red chain link design. The exterior of the bowl is an alternating floral cartouches on a red ground. The base has a double foot ring, a feature found in older Imari porcelains of the 19th century.
Dating: 2nd half 19th century
Dimensions: 9.5ʺW × 9.5ʺD × 3ʺH
Condition: good