Flared glass (jícara)

A bell-shaped vessel with a slightly curved rim, made of porcelain with a decoration of metallic oxides under the cover, with a chromatic combination of red blue and gold. This decorative type is called Imari, the name of a Japanese port from where a certain type of ceramic production from the Arita kilns was marketed. The combination of underglaze blue and polychrome glazes with a clear dominance of a reddish, green and dark brown and even golden tones, made this original Japanese production a model to be imitated by the potters of Jingdezhen in China. Its production began under the reign of Kangxi (1662-1722) and became popular in both the Chinese domestic and export markets during the 18th and 19th centuries.The forms of the so-called Chinese Imari are summarized in bowls, vases and dishes for domestic use. The ornamental themes of these are centered on plant motifs. In this case, branches with plum blossoms run along the surface of the piece. If in origin this decoration is associated with the figure of the scholar, as a metaphor for the early birth of the flower at the beginning of spring, in the commissioned pieces it loses its meaning, subtracting only the oriental value of the composition. In this same sense of transformation in the reception, we observe how this morphology of cups associated with chocolate, coffee and tea services in Europe and America adopts one or two lateral handles, while those destined for internal consumption are covered with a lid with a knob.Its presence in these new uses is documented in the literature and painting of the time as a narration of the reception and acculturation of the exotic in the European and American daily life./ Bibliography: CERVERA FERNÁNDEZ, I.: “VASO ACAMPANADO (JÍCARA) Dinastía Qing (1644-1911). S. XX. China”, in LÓPEZ GUZMÁN, R.; RUIZ GUTIÉRREZ, A.; SORROCHE CUERVA, M.A. (Scientific Coord.): Oriente en Granada (Exhibition Catalogue). Granada, 2008, pp.: 52.