Japanese Imari Kinrande Bowl Willow Landscape Plum Blossom Gold Meiji 6 Inch

Japanese Imari Kinrande Bowl Willow Landscape Plum Blossom Gold Meiji 6 Inch

Japan, Meiji period, c. 1868–1912

Approx. 6 in. dia (15 cm); Weight:

A handsome Imari (伊万里) porcelain bowl in the kinrande (金襴手) brocade style, combining underglaze cobalt blue with overglaze polychrome enamels and generous gilt to produce the richly layered surface characteristic of Arita export ware at its most decorative. The scalloped kiku-gata (菊形) rim follows the classic chrysanthemum-petal outline form associated with quality Imari production. The interior is organized around a deep cobalt blue ground field from which a central white reserve medallion emerges, painted in blue-and-gold with a sansui (山水) landscape: a willow tree, a pavilion, and water — a composition that became one of the most popular Imari center motifs for the Western export market. Gold cloud-form cartouche borders frame three polychrome reserve panels at the rim, each depicting ume (梅, plum blossom) in soft lavender-pink with orange kiku (菊, chrysanthemum) and green foliage arranged on a gilt ground. The blue ground between cartouches carries dense arabesque scrollwork with gold-outlined foliate roundels. The exterior is painted in restrained blue-and-white with a scrolling floral vine. The base bears a square seal mark in underglaze blue within a double border — a fuku-style auspicious character mark consistent with Meiji-period Imari production.

Condition: Very good; underglaze blue and overglaze enamels intact with strong color. Gold decoration well-preserved with minor age wear. No chips or cracks noted. Some kiln grit to the foot ring consistent with period production.

A well-composed and coloristically rich Imari bowl in the kinrande tradition — the willow medallion and three-panel ume cartouche arrangement represent the form at its most classically appealing.