173 - Imari baluster vase; Japan, c. 1900.

Imari baluster vase; Japan, c. 1900. Glazed porcelain, partially gilded. It bears a mark on the base. Measurements: 84 x 32 x 32 cm. This baluster-shaped vase belongs to the Imari decorative tradition, one of the most recognizable styles of Japanese porcelain produced for both the domestic market and export. This style developed in the kilns of Arita, on the island of Ky?sh?, beginning in the 17th century, and took its name from the port of Imari, from which the pieces were distributed to other markets. Characterized by a combination of polychrome glazes—particularly reds and blues—with gold accents, Imari porcelain became extraordinarily widespread in Europe from the 17th century onward, where it was prized for its ornate decoration and became a common feature of aristocratic interiors. Its popularity led to numerous reinterpretations and imitations in Chinese and European workshops. Made around 1900, this vase dates to a period of renewed Western interest in Japanese decorative arts, coinciding with the expansion of Oriental art collecting and the influence of Japonism in Europe. The piece thus bears witness to the survival of a historic ceramic tradition that, through its forms and ornamentation, helped shape European taste for Japanese art.