Featured Asian Charger Blue & White

Now that is beautifully painted/decorated. Quality well above the usual.

 

Thanks Kent-and as with much Asian ceramics it's down the research trail !

 

Could this have been done for the European Export Market for shipment to the Netherlands,Portugal,Spain,etc., and could that possibly be an 'ersatz' (generic) Fuku mark ? @Any Jewelry

 

Fuku marks were used on a lot of wares, and were not a requirement for the European markets.
And in general, Europeans prefered other types of Japanese wares. We see a lot of Imari and Kutani here.

 

Thanks for the FB AJ !

 

Wow, it's lovely!

 

Thanks Fig-I'm no expert in blue & white Japanese or Chinese,just went for because of perceived painting skills and price.

 

Wow-Just got a response from the Asian Art Forum sweeet !
Here tis-''The mark contains two of the elements 示 and 田 of the commonly used single character 福 so I think this is possibly an idiosyncratic simplification.''
What that actually means,as yet-I've no idea Still quite gratifying to get a nibble form the AAF folks.I've lived to tell the tale and I'm here to testify-it does happen !

 

Isn't 'idiosyncratic simplification' an ironic idiom of a oxymoron?

 

It is-More confused than ever by inscrutable Asian concepts huh ?

 

What does the "commonly used character" mean, then?

 

Not sure-just happy they talked to me.
Any idea what 示 , 田 or their commonly used offspring 福 means ?

 

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This 田 Japanese kanji could mean- “Blessed” and/or “Humble”-perhaps a Chinese blessing character for New Years.
This character 示 (shì) could mean-'to show' , 'to display' or 'to reveal '
"to show," "to display," "to indicate," or "to reveal".
The combination hybrid symbol of the two-I can't find much on, just guess.

 

Ah, a purposely vague mark perhaps. Regardless, it's a beaut of a plate!

 

Thanks so much Kent ! My Asian Ceramics knowledge is close to zero, i just related the level of the work to my skill set. I did commercial art & illustration way back-and the control in this seems formidable to me-but i'm no expert.

 

Perceptive comment-'purposely vague'. We in the Western art world wouldn't do this even on a piece of 'factory art'-we'd put a pretend signature on it, but in the East it's different !

 

Hey-Just got another response from the Asian Art Board and they agree w/ you brilliant folks (of course) !!!
'I think this is Japanese, late 19th century perhaps? Maybe a Japanese "fuku" mark then?' -Madria
PS-I'll keep looking for a similar artistic style to it.

 

Just got another response from Madria over at the Asian Art Forum-'If I had to venture a guess I would classically say Imari ware from the Arita kiln sites.'