Imari Porcelain – Fine Art or Folk Art?

While porcelain was first fired and created in the early seventeenth century by Korean potters, thankfully Ri Sanpei brought this discovery over to Japan from the second invasion of Korea in 1597.  The earliest images of Imari porcelain date back to this time and include porcelains in white and celadon hues with the traditional cobalt pigments.

However, as the practice of Imari porcelain became more advanced, it introduced the use of enamels in colors such as red, blue, yellow, green, purple and gold.  This porcelain became quite popular in the later 1600s and led to a time of great wealth for the producers.

Imari is actually the name given to porcelains that were made in Arita, Hizen province which is on the island of Kyushu.  While the production wasn’t limited to this area, many collectors look for pieces from this region.  But the name Imari comes from the Japanese port town that was used by the Dutch to ship the porcelain to others parts of Japan as well as abroad.

What’s interesting to note is that not all Japanese porcelain is made at Arita, as is commonly thought, though many still (incorrectly) call all Japanese porcelain Imari.

The Kakiemon was one of the first lineages of potters that worked at the Nangawa kiln near the area of Arita.  These potters were thought to have produced some of the finest Imari porcelain.  While some research has indicated that Kakiemon was the first person to use the over-glaze enamels, this has been disproved as the Hizen region pre dates their usage.

The traditional colors that are found in Imari begin with the base of porcelain that is white in color.  There is some porcelain that is slightly translucent, but these can be rare.  Onto this porcelain, artisans would use a cobalt blue pigment – and this is typical versions of the Imari style.  As the style developed and used enameling, the colors and any other pigments would be painted onto the already fired pure porcelain, though sometimes you could find that the porcelain itself has a blue undertone.

A special kiln used in firing Imari porcelain was in Iwayakawa and then was moved to Okochiyama.  The results of these firings were reserved for Nabeshima himself, and thus needed to be flawless. 

However, as time went on, the porcelains began to be exported and sold in domestic markets.  Many of the features of Nabeshima porcelain include:  the drawing of outlines over a blue under-glaze and then continued on with more colors that were enameled on.  These designs are very intricate and finished to perfection.

What you will want to keep in mind is that there are several different levels in quality that will determine that use of your Imari porcelain.  Just as with other pieces of fine dining ware, some are made for actual everyday use, while other pieces of Imari porcelain were created specifically for royalty and decorative purposes.  Many of the delicate and finely crafted pieces were reserved for the elite classes and distinguished members of society.

Some of the common and useful pieces of Imari porcelain include pieces such as:

• sake bottles
• rice bowls
• tea cups
• plates
• bowls
• and kurawanka.

The ‘practical’ pieces were generally fired and crafted at Hasami in Kyushu.  These pieces as well as the more decorative pieces can be decorated with a variety of images and Japanese characters.  Examples of the more common images include: cherry, maple, pine, lattice, plum and rock as well as floral scrolls.

But this begs the question of whether or not Imari porcelain was considered folk art or something more.  At the time of its creation, some might say that it was an unattainable art form for those that didn’t make the larger salaries of the wealthy class.  However, in these times, Imari porcelain is much more affordable for a wide variety of customers and classes.  Porcelain in general has only become more affordable for people in the last century, helping to make Imari porcelain more attainable and a fine art for everyone’s home.

The processing of enameling can help a curious buyer better understand how the actual images have been painted onto the porcelain’s surface.  The enamel is made of over-glaze pigments that are painted directly onto porcelain that has already been fired. What’s fascinating is that this enameling process wasn’t done initially, but actually came later on in the development of the porcelain.  The actually intricate enameling was done to appeal to Western tastes that seem to favor the intricacy of this design.

To fully understand the idea of Imari porcelain and to choose the right piece for your home, it can help to learn about the various concepts associated with this piece of décor.

Kinds of Imari

• Shoki-Imari – This is the oldest and earliest form of Imari that was created for local Japanese use as well as taste.  The Shoki-Imari porcelain is said to date back to the beginning of porcelain production and decoration – in or around 1620.  But this kind of Imari is difficult to find and even more expensive to purchase due in part to its rarity, as it tends to be found only in Japan itself.

• Ko-Imari – With the meaning of ‘old Imari,’ this is the next oldest Imari to Shoki and generally is associated with the time period known as the middle Edo period.  While it’s not nearly as rare as Shoki-Imari, it is quite expensive and still desired by many collectors.

Various Imari terms

• Hakuji – term for fine white porcelain
• Ruri – term for plain cobalt blue glazed porcelain
• Gosai – term for Imari that does not contain more than five colors in total
• Sometsuke – term for Imari that is decorated in underglaze white and blue
• Seiji – term for a pale green celadon colored porcelain

Imari porcelain reproductions can be found in a myriad of retailers, but their quality and intricacy can never match the hand crafting of the original pieces if you’re interested in the finest quality.  However, for everyday use, these reproductions can be a way to add a Japanese touch to your next gathering.

While the intricacy of the patterns on this type of porcelain can seem ‘gaudy’ to some, when you include a few pieces into a design scheme, it can be more of an accent to a simpler overall style.  For example, those that already favor a simplistic Asian decor can incorporate a few Imari porcelain plates (or reproductions) on their walls as a special touch without overpowering the room.

Folk art or fine art?  That’s still a matter of debate for enthusiasts of Imari porcelain, however, there is no debating the beauty of a style that has survived so many years.