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Octagonal Kakiemon-style Porcelain Charger

An octagonal Japanese porcelain plate with bird and flower enamel decoration and a fuku mark on the reverse. - view 1
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Estimated value

$450 - $1,200

Rarity

Uncommon(5/10)

Era

Late 19th Century (Meiji Period)

Origin

🇯🇵 Japan

Authenticity

Moderate(65%)
19

OCTAGONAL KAKIEMON-STYLE PORCELAIN CHARGER: IDENTIFICATION

An octagonal porcelain charger measuring approximately 30-35 cm in diameter, decorated in overglaze enamels with a classic Kakiemon bird-and-flower motif. The central well features a bird perched on a branch beside a stylized vase (hana-ike) filled with blossoming peonies and plum branches. The palette includes characteristic iron-red, greenish-blue, yellow, and a distinct violet-blue. The underside shows a blue underglaze 'fuku' (happiness) mark within a double circle and a distinctively unglazed, iron-stained footrim.

Compare with other ceramic pieces in the archive: Alabaster Urn-Shaped Vase, Han Dynasty Style Glazed Ceramic Boar Figurine, Chinese Blue and White 'Three Friends of Winter' Stem Cup, Ming Style.

CROSS-CULTURAL PARALLELS

Where This Object Echoes

German (Meissen)1730-1750

Meissen 'Yellow Lion' and 'Flying Fox' patterns were direct copies of these Arita imports.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

  • •Hana-matsuri (Flower Festivals) where floral motifs symbolize the transient nature of life.

Meaning Through Time

Edo Period

Symbol of high-status export trade and elite Japanese craftsmanship.

Modern Era

An essential reference point for 'Japonisme' in Western decorative arts.

SCARCITY

Uncommon70-80%
CommonLegendary

Genuine antiques with fewer examples on the market. Named makers, documented provenance, or early production examples.

Rarity 5/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 21 ceramics items at rarity 5 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

  • Limited production
  • Named makers
  • Growing collector demand

Confidence Factors

  • Blue-green tint of the glaze is more typical of 19th-century production than early Kakiemon
  • High prevalence of 20th-century reproductions from Seto and Arita
  • Enamel palette is vibrant but lacks the dry, matte quality of 17th-century originals
How does authenticity detection work?

CERAMICIST'S ASSESSMENT

Ceramics Historian & Kiln Specialist

Ceramics Expert

Identification of the style and region is certain (Arita, Kakiemon-style). Confidence is tempered by the difficulty in distinguishing between late 18th-century and 19th-century examples without physical handling.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Octagonal form consistent with VOC-period export shapes later revived in the Meiji era.
  • 2Glaze exhibits 'pinholing' and minor kiln debris common in 19th-century Arita kilns.
  • 3Iron-red enamel shows the specific 'orange-peel' texture found in authentic Japanese overglazes.
  • 4The 'Fuku' mark is hand-painted in underglaze cobalt with a fluid, calligraphic hand.
  • 5Unglazed footrim shows the sandy texture and oxidization characteristic of Japanese porcelain pastes.

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •The glaze clarity is almost too perfect for 18th-century wares.
  • •The blue lines defining the central well are very uniform, suggesting a more modern precision.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Perform a 'tap test' with a wooden stick to check for a clear ring (sound indicates lack of hidden cracks).
  • →Examine the piece under UV light to verify if any repairs have been made to the rim points.
  • →Measure the diameter precisely; specific sizes often correlate to documented VOC orders.

CONDITION & GRADE

Good to Very Fine

Grading breakdown

The grade is supported by the lack of structural cracks or 'hairlines,' though enamel wear and footrim oxidation are present.

Condition

The footrim shows significant iron-red oxidation and some localized chipping/wear consistent with age. The face shows minor surface scratches to the enamels and some kiln-soot inclusions (tiny black specks) near the center.

Weight & feel

Substantial and dense, typical of stoneware-leaning porcelain from the Arita region; the thick walls suggest a weight of 1.5 to 2.0 kg.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$450 - $1,200

Updated: May 11, 2026

Who buys this

Specialist collectors of Japanese export porcelain and interior designers focused on Chinoiserie/Japonisme styles.

What increases value

  • •Complexity of the 'hana-ike' (vase) motif
  • •The octagonal shape, which is highly preferred over standard round forms
  • •Absence of 'hairline' cracks on the rim points

What lowers value

  • •Cracking at the sharp corners of the octagon
  • •Significant fading or loss of the iron-red enamel

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Nigoshide body (pure white)
  • •Sparseness of design (purest Kakiemon style)
  • •Documented 17th-century provenance

Grade & condition

Chips at the points of the octagon and the integrity of the gold/red rim line.

Rarity & demand

UncommonModerate demandModerate liquidity
Browse similar ceramics objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

BR

bruinsma
The Connoisseur•59 items

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