Antique Japanese Imari Porcelain Charger Plate Hand Painted Floral Bird Design Decorative Dish

An antique Japanese Imari porcelain charger of excellent decorative quality, richly hand painted in the traditional palette of iron red, cobalt blue and gilt. The square shaped form with softly scalloped edge is beautifully detailed with panels of stylised foliage, landscape scenes and reserves, centred by a striking floral arrangement issuing from a vase with a perched bird above. The border is further enhanced with bold cartouches and gilt highlights, giving the piece a strong visual impact. Imari ware was produced for both the domestic Japanese market and export, particularly to Europe, where such chargers were highly prized for display on cabinets, walls or dining room sideboards. Pieces like this were often used as statement decorative objects rather than for everyday dining, reflecting status and taste. Date: 1900 Origin: Japanese