Japanese Export Porcelain

The Imari-style porcelain plate was produced in the early 18th century during the Edo period (1603-1868) in the Japanese city of Arita. The typical colours of this style include white, cobalt blue, red, and gold.

Arita was the hub of Japanese porcelain production, and the porcelain made there for the European market became renowned as Imari porcelain. The name derives from the port of Imari, located near Arita, from where the porcelain was transported to Nagasaki, the base of the Dutch East India Company. This company then shipped the export porcelain to Europe. From the late 17th century onwards, Imari-style porcelain was also produced for the European market in the Chinese city of Jingdezhen. These pieces closely resembled the Japanese originals and were often collected in Europe as Japanese porcelain.

In addition to Japanese and Chinese Imari porcelain, Count Friedrich von Luxburg's collection included other pieces of export porcelain. Count Friedrich primarily acquired these items in the Würzburg area but also made purchases in Munich through his brother, Max Count von Luxburg (1823-1881). His sister, Caroline Baroness von Cetto (1820-1881), who was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Marie of Bavaria, also collected Japanese Imari porcelain and Chinese porcelain in the famille rose style. In 1875, she gifted two porcelain plates to her brother. After her death, she bequeathed him an additional 13 Chinese and Japanese plates and vases.