This monumental covered bowl is a virtuoso display of the ‘Imari’ palette, combining underglaze cobalt blue with overglaze iron red and gold. The decoration centres on the prestigious Karajishi Botan theme – the ‘Lion of China’ (shishi) amidst scrolling peonies (botan). The spotted body of each lion is weaving through the lush floral background.
An identical example, formerly in the collection of Augustus the Strong, is held in the Porzellansammlung in Dresden[1].
Another covered bowl is in the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, reproduced in Japan: Masterpieces from the Idemitsu Collection[2].
[1] PO 5869
[2] Jackie Menzies, Japan: Masterpieces from the Idemitsu Collection, 1984
The bowl presents a sophisticated trompe l’oeil device known in Chinese as baofu (wrapped cloth, where bao, packing, puns with treasure), and in Japanese as furoshiki, the art of gift wrapping. Sweeping, fluid panels mimic the appearance of silken brocade tied around the vessel. These textile-like bands are gathered by a central knot, adorned with highly stylised plum blossoms. This design creates a sense of movement and tactile softness, contrasting beautifully with the solid form of the porcelain. It reflects the 18th-century taste for complex, multi-layered ornamentation where porcelain mimics the sumptuousness of fabrics.
The cover presents a finial depicting a cockerel perched upon a branch of ripe pomegranates. In both Chinese and Japanese culture, the cockerel is a symbol of punctuality, courage, and reliability. it recalls the long-tailed Kochi fowl, a prized ornamental breed traditionally kept in the gardens of great noble houses in Japan. The pomegranate, shown bursting with seeds, is a universal symbol of fertility and the blessing of numerous progeny.