Japanese Edo Arita Kinrande Ko Imari Covered Vase

• Finial - An architectural decoration, found on the upper parts of of an object. On furniture they are usually found on pediments, canopies and shelf supports. On smaller ceramic or silver items, such as spoons, they may decorate the top of the item itself, or the lid or cover where they provide a useful handle for removal.
  
  Finials have a variety of shapes and forms. They may be urn-shaped, baluster shaped round or spiral, but usually taper into an upper point. Many real life shapes may also be used as finials, such as pineapples, berries, pinecones, buds, lotus and acorns. Sometimes animals such as a lion are depicted, or fish and dolphins.
• Kinrande - "Kinrande" is a type of decoration that is often found on Japanese porcelain, especially on pieces that were made during the late Edo period (1603-1868) and the Meiji period (1868-1912). The term "kinrande" literally means "gold brocade," and it refers to a style of decoration that features gold paint or gilding in combination with bright colours.
  
  The kinrande style typically involves the use of a red, blue, or green background colour, which is then decorated with gold motifs such as flowers, birds, or geometric shapes. The gold decoration is applied using a technique known as "moriage," which involves building up the design with layers of raised enamel or slip.
  
  Kinrande decoration is often associated with the Arita region of Japan, which is known for its production of high-quality porcelain. Arita porcelain was first made in the early 17th century, and it quickly became popular both within Japan and for export to other countries. The kinrande style was especially popular during the late 19th century, when Japan began to produce large quantities of porcelain for export to the West. Some of the most valuable pieces are those that feature intricate and detailed gold decoration, as well as those that were made during the Edo or Meiji periods by well-known porcelain artists.
• Gilding - Gilding is a method of ornamentation whereby a thin sheet of gold metal is applied to items made of wood, leather, ceramics, glass and silver for decorative purposes.
  
  For furniture including mirrors, the sheet of gold is usually applied over a coating of gesso. Gesso is a mixture of plaster of Paris and gypsum mixed with water and then applied to the carved wooden frames of mirrors and picture frames as a base for applying the gold leaf. After numerous coats of gesso have been applied, allowed to dry and then sanded a coat of "bole", a usually red coloured mixture of clay and glue is brushed on and allowed to dry, after which the gold leaf is applied. Over time parts of the gilding will rub off so the base colour can be seen. In water gilding, this was generally a blue colour, while in oil gilding, the under layer was often yellow. In Victorian times, gilders frequently used red as a pigment beneath the gold leaf.
  
  Metal was often gilded by a process known as fire gilding. Gold mixed with mercury was applied and heated, causing the mercury to evaporate, the long-term effect of which was to kill or disable the craftsman or woman from mercury poisoning. The pursuit of beauty has claimed many victims, not the least of which were the artists who made those pieces so highly sought after today.
• Edo Period, Japan - The Edo period in Japan lasted from 1603 to 1868. During this time, Japan was ruled by the Tokugawa shogunate, a military government led by the Tokugawa family. The Edo period is characterized by a period of relative peace, stability, and economic growth, as well as by the development of a distinctive culture and society.
  
  During the Edo period, the capital of Japan was moved from Kyoto to Edo (modern-day Tokyo), and the country became increasingly isolated from the rest of the world. The shogunate implemented strict policies to maintain control, including the restriction of foreign trade and travel. However, despite this isolation, the Edo period saw significant cultural and artistic development, including the emergence of the ukiyo-e woodblock print tradition, the growth of Kabuki theater, and the flourishing of a vibrant merchant culture.
  
  The Edo period ended with the Meiji Restoration of 1868, which saw the collapse of the shogunate and the restoration of imperial rule.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• Japanese ceramics, factories and cities - Arita 128
• Satsuma (Japan), item type
  • boxes 111
  • other items 2,034
  • vases 1,376