Imari is the European name for a type of Japanese porcelain made for export from Arita. Japanese Imari was shipped from the port of Arita starting in the late 17th century. Antique Imari is richly decorated with flowers, figures, ships and Asian symbols in lovely, dark underglaze cobalt blue, red enamels and gold. Other colors used sparingly are turquoise, green, eggplant, and yellow. Some Imari-style wares were made in China. In the 18th and 19th centuries, European potters and buyers loved this pretty pottery so much that the English, Georgian and Victorian, potteries such as Derby, Mason, Minton, Spode, Worcester produced products very similar to this bold new ceramic.

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