Overview
A beautiful Japanese porcelain plate featuring a hand-painted scene of a scholar or merchant resting on a veranda beneath a fruiting persimmon tree. The design masterfully combines underglaze cobalt blue with delicate overglaze polychrome enamels in orange, yellow, and green. The reverse features a hand-painted blue underglaze maker's mark.
Story
In Meiji-era Japan, artists captured the quiet beauty of daily life for a global audience. This plate depicts a scholar enjoying a moment of autumn peace, symbolized by the ripe persimmons hanging overhead.
Maker / Origin
The plate bears a hand-painted underglaze blue mark on the reverse, likely associated with one of the many skilled family-run kilns operating in the historic Arita region. Arita has been the beating heart of Japanese porcelain production since the early 17th century, famous for its pure white clay and vibrant cobalt underglazes.
Condition & Value
The plate appears to be in excellent antique condition with no visible chips, cracks, or hairline fractures. The overglaze enamels on the persimmons and the scholar's apron remain bright and intact with minimal rubbing. Excellent condition like this helps secure the higher end of the value range.