The lidded vase, in the form of a “potiche”, has a handle in the shape of a Chinese dog and is decorated with auspicious motifs on a “brocade” background. Imari “gold brocade” is the type of Japanese porcelain best known in the West. Imari porcelain, produced by the kilns of Arita, is so named from the port of Imari, where between 1650 and 1750 this precious pottery was shipped on Dutch merchant ships.