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I have this metal plate, decorative I'm assuming. It's a little smaller than the average saucer plate. It has many repeating markings on the bottom (shown in picture.)

I received it from an elderly woman this past summer.

Because I do not know what it technically is or what it is made of I'm having a hard time finding information on it.

It must have some sort of enamel on it because it is starting to flake revealing a silver colored metal (but I do not think it is silver.) It's very light.

Either way it is very pretty! Any information anyone could give me would be so greatly appreciated.

Stylistically your plate is Japanese and an example of decoration in mixed metals that is sometimes called "shakudo". I've seen somewhat similar decoration on the backs of Japanese metal mirrors made in an antique style of spelter metal that has been plated and given a patina to achieve an old shakudo look. Some of the mirrors I've seen had similar flaking problems.

See the link for images of Japanese metal mirrors. I would hazard a guess that what you have may be a pin dish that came in a vanity set with a matching mirror, but that is only speculation. I've seen a number of these mirrors in estate sales and presumed them probably to be souvenirs of Japan that came to the USA in the 3rd quarter of the 20th century with military personnel returning from duty in Japan.

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Best regards,

Bill H.

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