{"product_id":"vintage-japanese-arita-imari-phoenix-plate-9-5-inch-floral-border","title":"Vintage Japanese Arita Imari Phoenix Plate 9.5 Inch Floral Border","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis listing is for a vintage Japanese Arita Imari porcelain plate, measuring approximately 9½ inches in diameter, decorated in a striking palette of underglaze cobalt blue with iron-red and green overglaze enamels. The plate has a gently scalloped rim, creating a lobed outline that enhances the decorative impact of the design and is characteristic of late Meiji to mid-Showa export wares from the Arita region.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe front of the plate features a deep cobalt blue ground densely filled with large white chrysanthemum blossoms and foliage, finely outlined and shaded in blue with yellow centers. This floral border is interspersed with reserve cartouches in asymmetrical, fan-like shapes, typical of Imari aesthetic playfulness. Two elongated hexagonal panels are framed with a Greek key border in iron red, containing delicate red floral and foliate sprays on an off‑white ground. A third, more angular cartouche displays a stylised phoenix amid flowing red tail feathers and cloud-like scrolls, accented with small green roundels. The phoenix motif, a classical symbol of rebirth, virtue, and auspicious fortune in East Asian decorative arts, provides a strong focal point and links the piece to traditional Japanese iconography.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe glaze on the front is bright and glossy, enhancing the saturation of the cobalt and the contrast with the crisp white porcelain body. The enamels appear hand‑applied, with small, expected variations in line weight and tone that confirm artisan decoration rather than modern transfer printing. The scalloped rim is neatly finished, and the floral design carries right up to the edge, underscoring the quality intention of the piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse is characteristically plain for Arita Imari, with a clean white glaze and two concentric underglaze blue lines encircling the foot ring. The foot itself shows typical firing and wear marks, along with minor kiln specks, entirely consistent with vintage Japanese production. No maker’s mark is visible in the images, but the combination of palette, chrysanthemum border, panel layout, and phoenix device aligns well with mid‑20th‑century Arita export ware often attributed to Aoki and related kilns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCondition appears good for age based on the photographs, with the glaze retaining strong colour and gloss. There may be small firing imperfections, specks, and minor rim roughness or flea bites commensurate with vintage porcelain; please refer closely to the images for an accurate assessment of any tiny nicks, light surface scratching, or age‑related wear to the enamels. The plate lies flat and displays very well, making it suitable for cabinet display, wall mounting (with an appropriate plate hanger), or as part of a larger Imari or Japanese porcelain grouping.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis Arita Imari plate offers an appealing balance of traditional symbolism and bold decorative presence. Collectors of Japanese ceramics, Imari enthusiasts, and decorators seeking a vivid accent piece will appreciate its rich cobalt ground, crisply rendered chrysanthemum border, and the auspicious phoenix cartouche at centre. Its 9½‑inch size makes it versatile: substantial enough to serve as a focal display plate, yet compact enough to incorporate into a mixed wall or shelf arrangement of antique and vintage porcelain.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Moffitts Antiques","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53941509095708,"sku":null,"price":23.2,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/moffitts.co.uk\/products\/vintage-japanese-arita-imari-phoenix-plate-9-5-inch-floral-border","provider":"Moffitts Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}