Japanese Imari Plate with Sea Animals 19th Century

A fun and colorful pale cobalt and gilt 19th C Japanese plate that is hand worked and hand painted.

 

A porcelain plate is decorated with a turtle, a crab, and seashells among cherry trees in bloom on the shore. The central well has a design of leaves with a chrysanthemum border in blue. The plate has heavy use of gilt, along with pale under glaze cobalt and polychrome enamels. The underside of the plate Is decorated with Buddhist symbols using cobalt under glaze.  

 

The plate feels very soft from age and oxidization. It has a shallow unglazed foot, a glazed base, and is unmarked.

 

 

8 1/8” (20.6 cm) diameter x 1 ¼” (3.2 cm) deep. Weighs 14.6 oz (415 g)

 

 

There are no breaks, chips, cracks, or repairs. There is a kiln flaw just outside the blue and white border, under a tree. The kiln flaw has been glazed over. Other than a few spots of wear to the gilding along the rim, a large shell and an eel (or snake?) opposite it, as well as slight wear to the central well, the plate is in very good condition.

 

A decorative Japanese Imari plate to add color, age and richness to your home or collection.