I have had a half written post called “Can Imari’s Reputation Be Resuscitated” sitting around in my drafts folder for weeks and now it is time to bring it out, rewrite it, and change its title to the one above. I am not talking about the simpler blue and white underglaze only Imari (which has never gone “out” of style), but instead Ko-Imari (old Imari), the polychrome and gold in-your-face with color Imari. Sometimes accused of being “old-fashioned” and “traditional,” I think it is finally having a well deserved revival in modern settings.
Let’s be clear – People are still collecting Imari, beautiful pieces are in demand and it is often featured in classic interiors. Some designers have been using it all along. You can often catch a glimpse of a piece in a Michael Smith interior. I am referring to using Imari in a new way by pairing it with unexpected partners.
This is the more “expected” model of porcelain display – a bit hard to pull off if you don’t have a grand country manor with generations of accumulation and original paneling.
First to catch my eye was the October 2010 House Beautiful apartment of Nancy Tilghman designed by Daniel Sachs. Amidst the ethnic mixed but modern living room of this Park Avenue apartment sits an Imari bowl on a side table, filled with citrus fruit. Underneath the same table stands a large Satsuma urn (which is basically the same thing for my intents and purposes here in this post).
Then there was the Eddie Ross Thanksgiving tablescape in the October/November issue of Lonny Magazine which featured Imari plates and serving pieces that I wrote about in my last post. The color and design of the decor took its cues from the vibrant colors in the Imari, but what makes it unusual is the unexpected combinations Ross uses. While a crystal chandelier is an expected pairing, rustic wooden beams are not.
The beginning of November brought this Miles Redd designed bedroom featured in New York Magazine. I believe I spy a large Imari charger from John Rosselli above the closet door in the riotously colored bedroom designed for David Keiser.
This third week of November brought the Wendy Haworth Tastemaker Sale on One Kings Lane. She had a number of Imari dishes and bowls listed. All sold out immediately!
I’d love to hear from you with your ideas on how you have or would use your Imari. And don’t limit it to that….What other design ideas or decorative items have you “resuscitated”?
Image Credits: 1. The World of Interiors, February 2009, 2. House Beautiful, October 2010, photo credit: Ngoc Minh Ngo, 3. Lonny Magazine October/November 2010, 4. New York Magazine, November 7, 2010, photo credit: Thomas Loof/Art Department, 5. One Kings Lane
Margaret Lambert
I usually keep non-perishable snacks out in bowls where family members can grab them quickly on their way by. Imari bowls filled with kumquats, mandarin oranges, clementines, or pistachios would be beautiful.
Vanessa
I’ve found an old tall ceramic vase in blue and white that was in storage for the past 10 years. It actually has the same swirl pattern as a couple small bowls I picked up in Japan. It is now an umbrella stand/holder by the door. Does that count?
Tokyo Jinja
Most definitely!
Sandy
Interesting. I saw the One Kings Lane sale and almost emailed it to you so it’s nice to see we’re on the same page. I’ve never been fond of this form of Imari, never wanted to collect it. Strange, of course, since the colors are so up my alley and within my decor pallette. So it was amazing to see the Eddie Ross Thanksgiving table in your previous post. That is the first time I have ever coveted this kind of Imari, if only to set my table that way just once.
Tokyo Jinja
I think Imari would work wonderfully with your modern slab table and that great red and gold lacquer painting in your dining room.
Robert Green
I came across a 18″ old imari charger. (really old-1880 ?) Normal red, blue, green, gold. On the bottom are Orange bats (one bat has issues- the one bat has about half of it’s white and orange porcelain missing- no chips, the porcelain just didn”t adhere to the bisque body of the charger. I put it on my dinning room table . It is too pretty to put fruit in-the interior is of 2 pheasants with alot of plummage.