A very rare pair of finely modeled and decorated Imari reticulated, lantern form porcelain candle domes. Blue underglaze and polychrome enamel decoration with very pale celadon pooling in the clear glazed areas. This extraordinary find is made only more so by coming in a pair. The only similar objects I initially find include an Hirado censer (in two parts) in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (M.2003.154.25a-b) and another, “Seto” example in the Victoria and Albert Museum (172&A-1877), both early 19th century. I think one will not find another. It is not improbable that the blanks, well decorated in Imari palette, may be Hirado production by special order. This is consistent with the intricate open worked flowering vine decoration as well as the feel of the unglazed biscuit around the bottom aperture. A cobalt blue band with apparently Japanese family Mon in white adorns the bottom above three, shaped feet. With this, it becomes less clear whether these were intended for domestic consumption or (more likely) for export. 19th century. One is in very good condition. The other is also fully serviceable and sound though with an old stress line on the bottom rim (see enlargement views). That one is 11 1/4 inches high. The other is 11 1/2 inches high.

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