Here's another piece I picked up just before leaving the UK. It was a chance find on ebay. From the photos I thought it was a typical Imari type piece with the blue decor combined with overglaze iron red & gold. However, when it arrived, I was surprised to see that the blue decor isn't under the glaze, but instead has been applied over the glaze and fired on - a technique I don't recall seeing before on a Japanese piece of this style.
The blue decor is quite fine and detailed, but has been applied more thickly in the darker portions of the design. The paste is white, while the glaze has a slight bluey-green tint.
I'm afraid it's another piece I forgot to measure, but would estimate the height to be around 61/2 - 7 inches. It has some nibbles and quite a bit of wear. It's certainly an older piece - I'd guess no newer the early twentieth century, though beyond that I have no idea.
So has anyone seen anything similar or have any idea of the exact age?
Thanks,
Steven