2 Early English Ironstone Imari Plates. Both measure 9". Hallmark used by Masons. Imari is a style of porcelain named after the Japanese port from which it was shipped to the West, beginning in the late 17th century. By the early 18th century, China was flooding the export market with inexpensive Chinese Imari of its own, making Japanese Imari prohibitively costly in the West. The withdrawal of Japanese Imari from the Western market lured even more potteries into the Imari trade, particularly those in England. Our plates are early, c. 1840. PROVENANCE: The Private Estate of a Atlanta, Georgia Antiques Dealer. Weight 2 pds 6 oz

Chip on one plate