What is the difference between Imari and Arita ware?

Arita refers to the town in Hizen province where the porcelain clay was mined and fired. Imari was simply the shipping port from which these wares were sent across Japan and exported to Europe. Over time, the term Imari became synonymous with the specific blue, red, and gold palette produced in the Arita kilns during the Edo and Meiji periods.

How do I display a garniture of vases?

A garniture typically consists of three or five matching vessels designed to sit in a balanced line along a mantelpiece or large sideboard. The tallest piece rests in the centre, flanked symmetrically by the smaller lidded jars or vases. Keep them away from direct sunlight to protect the iron red enamels and delicate gold leaf details from fading over time.

Are these vases waterproof?

Most antique porcelain and earthenware pieces from the nineteenth century and earlier were made primarily for decorative display rather than daily utilitarian use. While the glazed interiors hold water, thermal shock or accumulated moisture can sometimes stress old hairline faults. It is safer to use a modern liner inside antique ginger jars and slender neck vases if you intend to display fresh flower arrangements.

How do I tell an Edo period vase from a Meiji piece?

Edo period export pieces dating to the late seventeenth or eighteenth centuries often feature slightly heavier, coarser paste and softer, sootier underglaze blues. The brushwork tends to be more spontaneous and painterly. Meiji period pieces from the late nineteenth century generally display sharper porcelain bodies, brighter iron red enamels, and far more precise, dense gilding applied during an industrialising era of export.