Plate - Ceramic - 1840–1868 (Bakumatsu)

A Japanese blue-and-white porcelain plate decorated with a finely painted figural landscape scene, depicting travelers on horseback within a river and mountain setting. The composition is executed in soft cobalt tones with expressive brushwork and subtle tonal variation, characteristic of late Edo-period provincial wares. The porcelain body shows a gently milky glaze with natural pooling of cobalt, and the plate is formed with a shallow profile and neatly finished footrim. The reverse displays simple concentric rings without factory marks, consistent with pre-Meiji production. The piece shows expected signs of age, including kiln grit and firing marks on the underside, minor surface wear, and small firing imperfections visible upon close inspection. These features are typical of authentic ceramics from this period and do not detract from the integrity of the painted scene. All photographs form an essential part of the description. Attribution, dating, and origin are offered in good faith based on stylistic and material analysis; minor differences of scholarly opinion are possible.