Large Flared Cylindrical Vase With Imari Decoration, Late 19th Century.

This large vase, 41.5 cm tall, is a late 19th-century Chinese vase.
It features a rich Imari decoration, incorporating most of its characteristic attributes.
First, the colors: cobalt blue and two shades of orange on a white background.
Second, the iconography, with motifs typical of Arita pottery: lotus flowers, branches, and especially the flower-filled pot.
The shape is elegant: a flared cylinder with a neck wider than its base. A bulge halfway up breaks the otherwise straight line of the stem.
Despite a strong resemblance to Japanese pottery, a trained eye will detect notable variations.
The glaze is creamier and, in places, slightly thicker.
Furthermore, it is very rare for the inside of the neck of Imari vases to be decorated. Finally, the underside of the base is very revealing: it is unglazed and bears a brown signature, whereas the rare signed Imari pieces are always signed in blue.
No doubt, we are in the presence of a beautiful, high-quality Chinese piece.
It confirms the great skill of Chinese artisans and artists, including in the field of imitation.
This very beautiful vase will grace your entryway or living room on its own, or will blend seamlessly into your collection of Imari pieces without looking out of place.