Imari style Tureen

The Imari style oval porcelain tureen is a Japanese inspired design with a manufacturing date in 1886. It belonged to the Aragonés family and is now on display in the Barbera dels Aragonés House Museum. 

The "Imari" porcelain was a type of tableware that the Dutch brought from that port. In the 17th century, only the Dutch West Indies Company was authorized to trade with Japan during the Sakoku (the isolation period). But by 1750 the Chinese and Europeans imitated "Imari" style at cheaper prices. One of these imitation is this tureen from the Derby factory in England. In 1773, King George III, after visiting the factory, granted them permission to incorporate the royal crown into the company seal and it was renamed Crown Derby. This factory is also known for making the dishes for the first-class restaurant of the Titanic in 1911. 

The design of the Barbera tureen is a variety of the Japanese imitation known as Derby Japan. The decoration is polychrome with floral, vegetable and acanthus leaf motifs. On the back of the piece we see the printed mark; a crown with "DERBY" and a double "DD" stamped and linked to the crown, it is a typology used between 1877 and 1890. You can see a small crescent moon that indicates the year of production in 1886 and finally appears the number "563" which is the corresponding design number.

Do you want more information about the House Museum Barbera dels Aragonés? Click here. 

Height: 138 mm; Length: 210 mm; diam.: 128 mm
Nº inv. Vilamuseu 004446