JAPAN, Arita, EDO period (1603-1868), circa 1700 Lobed porcelain cup in the shape of a chrysanthemum with polychrome enamelled decoration (red, green, aubergine, black and gold) in the Imari style showing women in three round medallions with a red background surrounded by flowering scrolls, a peach branch at the bottom surrounded by a double lobed border, a symbol at the base. H. 5.5 cm LdM A chip to the rim and slight wear to the enamels These are Imari "protos" with a fully enamelled decoration, so there is no blue underglaze, and in this case not even any blue enamel: this type of piece is often of fine quality. Compare with a bowl from the famous Burghley House collection (The Burghley Porcelains, Japan society, New York, 1986, p. 267, n.118, described as Ko-imari, i.e. early Imari), and examples n. 202, 204, 205, 212 and 215, 206 and 211 in the catalogue Porcelain for Palaces, the Fashion for Japan in Europe 1650-1750, Oriental Ceramic Society, London, 1990 (pp. 206 to 211).