Preliminary identification
Photo reference
5 uploaded photos
Overview
An exquisite, finely painted square porcelain charger featuring a bustling riverside scene with figures in traditional dress, set against a backdrop of Mount Fuji. The reverse bears a red nine-character cartouche reading 'Kaga Kuni Kutani Okumura Zo' (Made by Okumura, Kutani, Kaga Province) alongside '画' (painted/decorated).
Story
Crafted during Japan's Meiji era, this charger was made for a global audience hungry for the romanticism of a newly opened East. The scene captures a lively festival near a bridge, framed by the sacred peak of Mount Fuji.
Maker / Origin
The mark attributes this piece to the Okumura workshop, active in the famous Kutani ceramic region of Kaga Province. Kutani workshops of this era were renowned for their highly detailed polychrome enamels and lavish use of gold leaf, catering heavily to the Western export market.
Condition & Value
The charger appears to be in very good antique condition. There is minor, expected wear to the gilding along the outer rim and some light surface grime on the reverse, but the central enamel painting remains remarkably vibrant and intact. Excellent condition commands a premium.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.