This coffee cup is decorated in the ‘Scarlet Japan’ pattern. The design consists of orange bands with gold diaper motifs alternating with floral panels. This pattern was so popular that it was also used to decorate imported pieces of blank Chinese porcelain by independent decorators in London. The flowers are painted in the Kakiemon style, while the orange panels resemble Imari decoration. It has been suggested that a Chinese adaptation of a Japanese design may have served as the source of inspiration for this pattern. It was most often used to decorate tea wares. Among Japanese porcelains, Imari and Kakiemon styles had the greatest impact on European ceramics. Both kinds of porcelain were produced in the area of Arita in present-day Saga prefecture on Kyushu Island. Kakiemon is named after the potter, Sakaida Kakiemon (1596-1666), who was reputed to have pioneered the use of colour enamels on porcelain in Japan.In contrast to Imari wares, which are generally richly decorated, Kakiemon designs show more restraint. Motifs are finely painted in translucent overglaze enamels with large undecorated areas highlighting the distinctive milky-white body. The range of enamels used on Imari wares is fairly wide but generally consists of blue, red and gold.
