This Imari charger centres a floral panel surrounded by outer panels painted with flowers and fruit in red, blue, green, yellow, and gold — a fuller palette than the red-and-blue combination more commonly associated with Imari ware, and one that takes real confidence to keep from looking cluttered. It bears the mark of the Yamatoku kiln in Saga Prefecture, a kiln that began production at the start of the Meiji period and continues operating today, with this particular mark dating to the 1920s to '30s per a Hizen marks reference.
Yamatoku's continuous operation across more than a century makes mark-dating especially useful for pieces like this one, since the kiln's output spans several periods rather than a single fixed window the way some shorter-lived workshops do.
Condition notes
Excellent antique condition. Some wear to paint and gilt.
