Antique Japanese Meiji Period Blue & Green Porcelain Peacock Plate 11"W

Antique Japanese Meiji Period Blue and White Porcelain Plate with Peacock Motif

Meiji Period, circa 1890s
Dimensions: approximately 11" wide x 9" high

Finely painted Japanese porcelain plate dating to the Meiji period, circa 1890s. The central scene depicts a peacock and peahen shown together among flowering peonies and dense foliage, rendered with unusually high detail and strong narrative presence. The pairing of the birds is less commonly seen and adds symbolic richness, often associated with harmony, prosperity, and longevity.

What sets this example apart is the distinctive greenish-teal cast visible beneath the cobalt decoration. This subtle underglaze tone is not typical of standard blue and white wares and suggests either a specific kiln formulation or firing condition, giving the surface a softly luminous quality that shifts under light. The cobalt itself is deeply saturated, with excellent tonal variation across the plumage, tail feathers, and floral elements.

The reverse shows traditional Meiji-era finishing with a neatly defined foot ring, soft kiln wear consistent with age, and hand-painted accents. The plate presents well overall, with minor surface wear and glaze pooling commensurate with late 19th-century production.

A visually striking and technically interesting example of Meiji porcelain, notable for both its uncommon color tone and the refined depiction of paired peafowl.