Meiji-period Imari Ware Iro-e and Gilt Square Lidded Jar, Japan
This Meiji-period-style Imari ware square lidded jar in iro-e with gold enamel is commonly called a “general jar” by collectors because of its tall form, lid, full body and frequent use for display. The piece is built on a square form (standing on a square base of 15×15 cm); the body swells outward for solid proportions, topped by a stepped shoulder line and a knobbed lid, giving an upright, dignified silhouette that “anchors” a room. The decoration combines Imari's classic sometsuke blue (blue ground), iro-e (red, green and other colours) and gold enamel; the motifs include flowers (chrysanthemum-type) and arrangements of flowering plants, branches and leaves, with panelled brocade grounds and decorative bands. Dense in detail and rewarding both from afar and close up, it is a centrepiece antique that catches the eye at a glance, whether in a home entrance, in a living-room display cabinet or as a focal point at a shop entrance.
