A very rare and unusual Japanese blue glazed Arita vase with gilt chinoiserie decoration dating from circa 1700. The dark blue glaze is very unusual in Japanese porcelain and made most certainly for the European market at the end of the 17th century or early 18th century. The vase has been decorated with exquisite gilded chinoiserie decoration. Certainly the inspiration for this type of porcelain is the Chinese ‘Mazarin’ solid blue glaze but this example is a very Japanese interpretation.