Set of Royal Crown Derby porcelain, c. 1909. Imari Pattern. Skinner Galleries photo

How often have you picked up a porcelain bowl at an antique show assuming it was probably Japanese in the Imari pattern? It was probably a surprise when you turned the bowl over and it had an English maker's mark, such as Worcester or Royal Crown Derby, or even Meissen or Delft marks.

The popularity of Oriental patterns from Japanese Imari to Chinese chinoiserie (a European interpretation of the Chinese taste) motifs has continued since it was first introduced to Europe in the 18th century. In fact, by the mid-18th century so much had been made that it went out of fashion until the late 19th century.

Proof of its continuing popularity is the auction prices for even early 20th century dinner services. When a 34-piece set of Royal Crown Derby Imari pattern porcelain, c. 1909, came to a recent Skinner Auction, it sold over its estimate of $1,000-$1600 for $2,645.

However a single bowl, mid 18th-century, made by Derby, Worcester or others in the Imari style and colors could sell for as much as $2,000.

Spode is one of the most prominent English makers, specializing in the Japanese pattern. It also used many Sevres decorations. It is known for heavy gilding, as well as vivid colors and intricate designs. Another is Worcester whose interpretation of the Imari style came from the Japanese Satsuma.

It all began when the Dutch East India Company began exporting Japanese porcelain and the Chinese Civil War nearly ended China's ceramic manufacture. The company first shipped Imari porcelain to Holland. The bright color combinations of cobalt blue, iron red and gold became instantly popular. Their shapes, fashionable in Europe at the time made them even more desirable. Typical motifs were of textiles, chrysanthemums and landscapes often enclosed in panels.

CLUES: Some pattern names and terms can help identify the maker and date English Imari pattern porcelain.

English Imari patterns can have strange names:

Jabberwocky: It was a Worcester pattern done in Imari colors with a mythical creature amid fruits and flowers. It came from the Lewis Carroll book, "Through The Looking Glass."

Japanese Fan: Featured four fan-shaped designs alternating with four gold diaper designs.

Japonaiserie: A French word for European decoration with a fantasy design. Brocade: Red, blue and gold designs that imitated the look of brocade. This pattern was used in England by Worcester and Chelsea. Meissen porcelain in Germany also used it.

Mandarin: A decoration using figure-subjects that sometimes alternated with flowers in panels. It was adapted from Chinese export porcelain designs by English porcelain companies such as Swansea.

Marks can be confusing. For example, Edm'e Samson et Cie of Paris made copies of Chinese export porcelain, both Continental and English. Sometimes the Chinese export is marked with an "S," other times with pseudo Oriental characters. It could be mistaken for 18th-century English Chinoiserie designs. Chinese export and Japanese Imari are unmarked. Some 18th century Worcester porcelain in the Kylin pattern (Chinese influence) is unmarked.

Pseudo-Chinese seal-marks were used on some Oriental motif porcelain made by Bow, Caughly and Worcester.

To learn more, one of the many informative books is "A Collector's History: British Porcelain," by John and Margaret Cushion. Published by Antique Collectors' Club, 5 Church St.,Woodbridge, Suffolk, England.