Antique Japanese Transfer Printed and Enameled 16 Inch Charger Meiji Era 19th c

Exquisite antique Japanese porcelain charger, decorated with scattered flowers in transfer-printed underglaze blue, subtly highlighted in hand painted pink and black enamels. The soft, milky glaze and the ash spots here and there show the age of the charger. Transfer printing came to Japan with the Meiji reformations, and I believe this is an early example -- from the glaze, the ash spots, and the use of small scattered transfer decorations, much easier to carry out than a single all-over design. I would date this charger to the 1880s, made for export to the West. No signature. An unusual and striking design, at home with both traditional and modern decors.

The charger is very slightly out of round, being 16 1/2 by 16 1/4 inches wide, another sign of early manufacture in a wood-fired kiln. It weighs 5 lbs 8 oz (shipping weight 9 lbs)

Condition: Very good with no chips or cracks or repairs. Some very light utensil marks from use. Please view the detail photos.