A fine rare Imari shallow bowl, decorated with 'Five Ships Design' in Namban taste, with eight Dutch figures about the central roundel of the sailing boats and tree peonies on a brocade ground in typical palette with gilded accents, the character for happiness verso, 20.7 cm dia. Note: Namban designs were inspired by the European traders and missionaries in Japan. Namban means 'Southern Barbarian' because European ships approached Japan from the south. Reference: Exhibition catalogue: master works from the Idemitsu Museum, p.67