Plate - Ceramic - Japanese Imari dish

This object is a large Japanese Imari porcelain charger. The central design depicts the Takarabune (the Japanese 'treasure ship' filled with riches and symbols of good fortune), sailing along a coastal landscape with a characteristic pine tree and flying cranes. On the sail of the ship is the character 宝 (Takara) painted large, which literally means "treasure" or "preciousness". The undulating rim of the plate is decorated in the traditional Imari style with orange-red cartouches filled with floral motifs (such as chrysanthemums and peonies) combined with gold accents and blue-and-white geometric brocade work. This type of large decorative plates was produced mainly in the Arita region during the Meiji period (1868–1912) or in the mid-20th century as decorative collectible pieces.