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I'm trying to help a friend do the right thing and get enough information together on this Imari charger to let his heirs know what they'll be inheriting one day. He's already had it for more than half a century The first thing I told him was to get rid of the bare metal hanger before it does any serious damage to the outer rim.

Most of the information I needed for him was available online, including here in the forum archives. However, I hit a snag with the seal script mark, which I'd hoped I could find transliterated online but instead drew a blank. The identical mark on that related charger I spotted with the dealer in Thailand must have mystified him too, since he didn't mention it at all. I believe the character may be either "jade" (玉 - yu in pinyin) or "correct" (正 - zheng in pinyin). I'd much appreciate help in sorting out which, not to mention how to pronounce it in Japanese. I've already visited the newly refurbished Chinese etymology website, but no perfect match to the dish mark could be found.

My thanks in advance to all comers,

Bill H.

Hi Bill,

I've seen this mark before a number of years ago and had it catalogged in my Japanese marks database, see picture.
The mark was described as being 正 and pronounced as "Sei". It was on a Arita Imari plate from the 1st quarter of the 20th century, but sorry, I didn't save a picture of the plate.
正 can have a number of meanings, see 2nd picture.
That's all I can help you with, although it isn't much.
Regards,
Martin.

Martin, you've saved my face again. Now that you've shown me the character, I recall seeing it in the seals of some Japanese ivory carvers, but pronounced 'Masa' in that context. So even if I'd remembered it, it would have been with the wrong phonetics. Here FYI are screen shots of that other dish with this mark in case.

Much obliged,

Bill H.

I think the charger was made by Kakusho kiln, Mikawachi. It is Meiji Hirado Akae plate.
Best Regards,
Emiko

Emiko, its great to hear from you and quite a bonus to get the good news about the Hirado connection too.

Thanks much and best regards,

Bill H.

Thank you Emiko.

Bill H.
Emiko also solved the meaning of the 正 mark. I thought it was "Sei", but it must be "Sho", because I found out that Kakusho is written as 嘉久正.
Besides that, included are pictures of the Horadokakusho kiln, which also shows the mark.
Thanks again,
Martin.

Thank you for your kind words. I will try to check in if anything comes to my interest now and then. Best Regards to all. Emiko

Dear Emiko,
Nice to "see" you again and congratulations with the publication of your book.

Regards,
Arjan

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