A magnificent large Japanese Imari porcelain slop bowl, decorated in underglaze blue, iron red and gold. The inside and outside both have six large panels decorated alternately with large flowering chrysanthemums and peony bushes, highlighted over the glaze with gold. The large panels are separated with wide blue bands, each decorated with gold swirls and plum blossoms. The interior has a central roundel containing a peony spray, the flowers and leaves are also picked out in gold. Below the panels on the outside, is a band of chrysanthemum and peony branches in underglaze iron red and gold. The high footring, has a band with a scrolling design, within blue lines.
On the underside is an apocryphal Chinese six-character mark of Chenghua, within a double blue circle. An incised and blackened inventory number (N:12.vvv) has been added, indicating it came from the collection of Augustus the Strong in Dresden. It can be found in the inventories of 1721 in book 6; Blue and White East Indian Porcelain – chapter 2; Tea and coffee wares plus accoutrements.
Porcelain was first made in Japan in the early years of the 17th-century, at kilns in and around the town of Arita on the the island of Kyushu. The very earliest pieces produced, were primarily designed for the domestic market as teaware. Production increased significantly from 1650 onwards, with a large part of the industry being directed towards the making of ceramics for export to Europe. The term "Arita" was traditionally used when referring to export wares in blue and white porcelain, mostly emulating Chinese styles. “Imari” refers to wares with additional iron red enamels. This slop bowl is clearly trying to copy Chinese wares, not only in style of decoration, but also by the addition of a Chinese Ming period imperial Chenghua six character mark (r.1465-1487).
