Imari ware

[ ih-mahr-ee ]

noun

1. Japanese porcelain noted for its rich floral underglaze decoration in iron-red, blue, and gold, and later copied in China and Europe.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Imari ware¹

1900–05 after a locale in western Saga prefecture (Kyushu) which was the sole market selling this porcelain during the Edo period

Example Sentences

Among the paintings, sculptures and books that graced the British and European offices of the investment bank before its collapse two years ago were two Lucian Freud etchings, a Gary Hume Madonna and some rather nice imari ware.

From The Guardian

In the year 1513, Gorodayu, Shonsui, of Ise, returned from China and settled in Arita, in the province of Hizen, which at once became and still remains the headquarters of the famous Imari ware.

From Project Gutenberg

It is, however, stated that this ornate Imari ware was first made for exportation to China to supply the Portuguese market at Macao, and that it was afterwards fostered by the Dutch at Nagasaki, whose exportations of the ware to Europe were on a considerable scale.

From Project Gutenberg