Pair of lamps in Imari porcelain and gilt bronze, circa 1880

Imari is a place of production of Japanese ceramics, otherwise known as “Arita porcelain”. It is the port of an island. Imari porcelain was first exhibited by the Dutch, with their Compagnie Orientale des Provinces-Unies (the V.O.C). These are Europeanized decorations but remaining very inspired by the great traditions of Asian spirituality. The Imari style is characterized by three dominant colors: cobalt blue, red tending to saffron and the white background of porcelain. Imari porcelain had a notable influence on the East India Company (Chinese Imari is referred to as East India Company porcelain), Delft earthenware, Dresden porcelain and the Meissen manufactory and even on 20th century Limoges porcelain.