Japanese Imari-Style Porcelain Garden Stool

This is a barrel-shaped glazed porcelain garden stool featuring a complex decorative program. The central body is adorned with a hand-painted landscape scene depicting cranes (a symbol of longevity) amidst pine trees and marshland, executed in a palette of soft greens, blacks, and whites. The upper and lower registers are defined by traditional Imari-inspired 'maki-e' style borders, utilizing a bold iron-red, navy blue, and black color scheme with gold-toned raised 'bosses' or studs that simulate metal upholstery nails. The flat top surface includes a central openwork 'cash-coin' cutout for drainage or ease of transport, surrounded by concentric bands of geometric patterns and a ring of blue-inked calligraphic characters. Physically, the piece stands approximately 18 inches tall and exhibits a high-gloss vitreous glaze. While the style draws from Edo-period traditions, the crispness of the transfer-print outlines combined with hand-painted fills suggests a 20th-century production, likely mid-to-late Showa period. The condition appears excellent with no visible cracks or significant chips, though minor shelf wear on the unglazed base ring is expected. The craftsmanship shows high-quality mass-market production standards with careful attention to symmetry and alignment of the intricate motifs.