Japanese octagonal dish blue and white inban – Meiji, c. 1870–1900

A large Japanese octagonal dish in blue and white porcelain with a rich inban decoration: the design was applied using paper stencils (katagami), recognisable by the fine breaks in the lines. In the centre a fan, chrysanthemums, peony and pine branches; the wide rim has panels with a wave pattern (seigaiha) and diaper motifs. The reverse is loosely hand-painted. A typical piece of Arita/Imari porcelain from the Meiji period (1868–1912), probably c. 1870–1900. The contrast between the crisp stencil work and the hand-painted reverse, the octagonal shape and the deep blue make this a decorative, very usable dish with a lovely story about Japanese porcelain production around 1900. A handsome dish for the table, the wall or a side table. Works well in a Japandi, classic or eclectic interior, and also in combination with Chinese blue and white. Condition: no chips, hairline cracks or restorations visible on the outer rim; glaze wear and small frits along the raised inner rim with some dirt in the corners; rust-brown iron specks and a few black dots in the white, firing flaws typical of the type; small printing flaws in the stencil work; a glaze bubble and a small support mark on the underside.