Lot 365

A massive and rare Japanese Imari porcelain garniture of octagonal shape consisting of three ovoid shaped jars with covers and two beaker vases, the body of the jars with four alternating panels enclosing scenes of cranes and flowers, all surrounded by floral decoration, the covers surmounted by gilt lion dog knob finials, the beaker vases with two panels, the one with cranes, the other with flowers. It is rare to find a complete garniture, particularly of this size. Garnitures were very popular in the Netherlands in the late 17th and 18th century. Large garnitures, like the one offered here, could only be afforded by nobility and would be displayed in their castles and country houses. In the summer the would be placed in the large fire places to hide the blackened wall. For further reading on the history of garnitures, see: C.J.A. Jörg, 'Fine & Curious, Japanese Export Porcelain in Dutch Collections', Amsterdam, 2003, page 259-261. Japan, Edo period (1602-1868), ca. 1700. Provenance: from a Belgian noble family -Jars: H. 85 cm, Beaker vases: H. 57,5 cm; Two jars with stress cracks and traces of old consolidation restoration to the inside. Considering the difficulty of producing such large vases it is not unlikely that these cracks originated during the firing process or shortly after-