Experience the elegance of exquisite Chinese artistry with this rare, antique Imari porcelain bowl. China and Europe began making Imari Ware for export following in the steps of the centuries-old Japan Imari art decoration in the late 1800’s. Since this bowl has a red backstamp that says, “Made in China” in both English and Mandarin, I believe this bowl was made right around 1920. A US law in 1890 required all imports have the country of origin in their backstamp. The words, “Made In” were later required in 1919. This stunning bowl sits 3 3/4″ high, is 3″ deep inside and is 8 in diameter. On pure white porcelain, the bowl is hand painted in colors of black, orange and gold gilt. The black sections, both inside the bowl and out, have gold swirls and large orange Lotus flowers. The inside top of the bowl has orange Lotus flowers and orange geometric shapes on a black leafed vine. The bottom center has a large panel with lily pads, grass and lotus flowers. The outside of the bowl has 2 panels on each side with the same design that is found in the bottom of the bowl. Each floral element is decorated with gold gilt with the flowers and panel edges having a very thick and raised gold moriage outlining. As mentioned earlier, the bowl is painted in red on the bottom with “Made in China”. The piece is a testament to the intricate craftsmanship of the early 20th century with its hand painted chinoiserie design. Truly a hand crafted one-of-a-kind piece, it brings a touch of classical sophistication to any collection. This rare bowl is a beautiful representation of antique originality, promising to be a standout piece that captivates the admiration of connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike. It has no chips, cracks, flea bites or crazing. There is a minute amount of wear to the top edge of the bowl. (See last 2 photos).
