This name is used for a pattern and/or colors given to a specific type of Chinese export porcelain.
During the late Ming dynasty the imperial court imposed a sea prohibition, virtually banning all trade with foreign trading companies.
Imari bowl of Chinese origin
After losing the lucrative trade with China, European trading houses were quick to source the valuable porcelain in Japan.
These ceramics made by kilns on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu were exported via a port called Imari, hence the name given to the Japanese porcelain bought by the Europeans, especially the Dutch.
After the majority of the porcelain exports shifted from Ming China to Japan, the Japanese kilns first copied Chinese patterns and produced similar decorations as China, gradually changing them to more Japanese patterns. However, after the sea ban was lifted and aided by Japan's seclusion Chinese kilns didn't waste any time to grab much of the export business back.
In order to conform to the taste of these Imari patterns the Chinese kilns copied the Japanese Imari patterns to some degree to be able to re-enter the European export market.
Porcelain with these Japanese-influenced decoration patterns are found mainly in the colors red, blue and gilt. In the west these patterns made in China are called Chinese Imari as opposed to the original Japanese Imari.
Due to the reasons and time of its origin this porcelain pattern is most abundant in export porcelain of the early Qing dynasty, especially the Kangxi reign (1662-1722) when the bulk of the porcelain trade shifted back to China.
In order to conform to the taste of these Imari patterns the Chinese kilns copied the Japanese Imari patterns to some degree to be able to re-enter the European export market.