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Hi There

I bought this plate at a flea market for 10 dollars and realized that it was Japanese not Chinese. It seems to have some genuine age to it and shows some iridescence in the light. The mark is confusing to me and its origin is unknown. If anyone could give me some information on it I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance!

http://s956.photobucket.com/user/gdunseth/slideshow/

Hi Garrett,

You're right it is Japanese. The mark reads "Aoki" and is from the Aoki brothers company from Arita. Probably dating: first half 20th. century.

Regards,

Arjan

Garrett, a standard "rose medallion" plate, as the name suggests, would have a gilt-circled medallion in the middle of the cavetto. This medallion filled the spot often occupied by family crests on armorial porcelains produced in China at a time when the Industrial Revolution was creating the non-noble 'nouveau riche' class with the means to afford such opulence on their dinner tables.

The surrounding reserves typically alternate between genre scenes of Mandarin life and garden-scapes featuring birds and insects among fantastic rocks. The reserves in the standard pattern are bordered by a scroll motive, as seen in the accompanying picture, although other borders were used, including the earliest one, which is melon-shaped. The reserves usually are surrounded by a tightly scrolling field of green vines on a gilt ground.

Very good quality rose medallion was produced in several pattern variants, including designs for the Persian and Indo-Persian markets, from the 1850's through the early 1900's. Before 1891, most of it was unmarked except as especially ordered, but after the McKinley Tariff Act of 1890 became effective the following March, these dishes began bearing "CHINA" marks, and later "MADE IN CHINA" stamps. Quality began to deteriorate during the early 20th century, as transfer decoration supplanted hand-painting.

Hope this helps your appreciation of the subject.

Best regards,

Bill H.

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