Large Rare Antique ‘Imari’ Porcelain Jardiniere

This spectacular, very early, large, and very heavy Japanese Imari porcelain bowl or jardiniere, has an amazing shape with an inward folding rim, and weighs just over 6kg. It has been extensively hand decorated in typical Imari style patterns, with garden scenes, flowers, insects, and various other motifs. All this in a lovely dark blue underglaze, an overglaze painted dark orange, and coral red colours, with gold highlights. This very impressive piece probably dates to around the middle 1800’s, and other than a very early, thin hairline crack to the centre of the base, it’s in amazing condition for its age and size. (This early hairline crack is common on large, and heavy early round pieces, due to the firing process, especially on thick bases, and not due to being damaged). This large jardiniere stands 23cm high, with a diameter of 33cm and weighs a heavy 6080g.