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Japanese Imari Porcelain Plate, Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Japanese Imari porcelain plate with blue and orange floral patterns and a fuku mark on the white base. - view 1
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Estimated value

$80 - $180

Rarity

Average(4/10)

Era

Circa 1880-1910

Origin

🇯🇵 Japan

Artist / Creator

Arita Kilns

Authenticity

High(75%)
29

JAPANESE IMARI PORCELAIN PLATE, MEIJI PERIOD (1868-1912): IDENTIFICATION

This porcelain plate features a classic Imari palette of underglaze cobalt blue combined with overglaze iron-red and gilt. The central medallion contains a stylized floral mon-like circular pattern, surrounded by a dynamic arrangement of chrysanthemum (kiku) and peony blossoms. The underside shows a roughly drawn underglaze blue fuku (happiness) mark within a double circle on the base, which was frequently utilized on export wares during the 19th century. The second smaller dish visible in the supplementary images displays a typical garden scene with a central pine and blossoming cherry motif, framed by an asymmetrical blue border.

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.

SCARCITY

Average55-70%
CommonLegendary

Typical antique shop fare. Requires some searching but regularly available. This is where most genuine antiques fall.

Rarity 4/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 101 ceramics items at rarity 4 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

  • Standard antique shop items
  • Regularly available
  • Moderate collector interest

Confidence Factors

  • The footrim display and erratic fuku mark are consistent with mass-produced Meiji era export wares
  • Underglaze blue bleeding (cobalt halo) reflects typical 19th-century firing conditions
How does authenticity detection work?

CERAMICIST'S ASSESSMENT

Asian Art Specialist

East Asian Art Expert

The form, palette, and base mark are highly characteristic of Meiji-era Arita production, though lack of high-resolution detail on the gilt prevents a definitive 'Deep' scan.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Presence of the 'fuku' (happiness) mark in underglaze blue on the base.
  • 2Typical Japanese Imari 'brocade' (nishikide) style with combined underglaze and overglaze pigments.
  • 3Unglazed footrim showing 'orange-skin' oxidation where the body met the kiln atmosphere.

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •The second dish shows a darker, muddier blue which can sometimes indicate early 20th-century mass production for department stores.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Check the rim for 'fritting' (small chips in the glaze) which is common in authentic period pieces.
  • →Verify if any marks are present on the second smaller dish to see if they form a matched set.

CONDITION & GRADE

Good

Grading breakdown

The grade is based on the lack of visible hairline cracks or chips, though significant gilt loss on the rim and central motifs prevents a 'Fine' designation.

Condition

The footrim shows dark oxidation and shelf wear consistent with age. There is moderate rubbing to the gilt highlights on the central medallion and minor kiln grit visible on the base.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$80 - $180

Updated: May 10, 2026

Who buys this

General antique collectors, enthusiasts of Japonisme, and interior decorators seeking traditional Asian accents.

What increases value

  • •Complexity of the hand-painted floral motifs
  • •Lack of structural damage (cracks or chips)

What lowers value

  • •Excessive wear to the gold leaf (gilt)
  • •Market saturation of standard Meiji export plates

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Extensive use of gold (kinrande) detailing
  • •Earlier 18th-century examples with sparser, more elegant compositions

Grade & condition

Completeness of the overglaze enamels and absence of staple repairs or hairline fractures.

Rarity & demand

AverageModerate demandSells quickly
Browse similar ceramics objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

EW

ewon1
Wonderseeker•5 items

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