Japanese Arita Porcelain Charger Painted Love Birds & Pine Trees central floral panel - antique circa 1880 19th C Meiji 12" dia 1.13 kg

A Japanese Arita porcelain large plate or charger, hand painted in polychrome enamels in the Imari palette. Painted with four fan shaped cartouches, two with a pair of Love birds in the branches of a pine tree, and the other two with shaped panel inset into an iron red ground with a scrolling polychrome flower pattern. This highly decorative large plate dates to the late 19th century circa 1880 during the Meiji era in Japan, and equating to the Victorian period in the UK..

The charger is of a round ribbed dished shape and has an underglaze blue painted ground structure which consists of a central roundel in reserve with a stylised geometric floral pattern. There is a stylised cross pattern with differing panel to each leg of the cross, in underglaze cobalt blue, one half with a cross hatched diaper pattern the other with a mottled blue ground and gilded leafy scrolls. The edge of the rim is scalloped with 32 lobes. The back of the platter is decorated with a stylised leaf and stem border around the underside of the rim. The low foot rim has blue border bands. There is a central spur support. 

The charger measures 12 inches (30.5 cm) diameter and stands 2 inches ( 5 cm) high. It weighs 1.13 kilograms unpacked.

It is in good antique condition, there is a chip to the rim with small associated crack, this damage has had a kintsugi type repair. There is another short stabilised crack to the the rim probably caused by a wire plate hanger. There is minor wear to the gilding and some minor fritting to the body. Please see the images.

This is a beautiful, highly decorative example of Japanese Meiji period porcelain of the mid 19th century. A great item for display or use.

Free UK postage with this item, International postage at cost.