JAPANESE ROYAL NIPPON ANTIQUE JEWELED PLATE C. 1900-10

This Jeweled Plate is from The Nippon Period, Circa 1900-1910. The plate is marked “Royal Art China”. It measures 9” Diameter; and has exquisitely hand painted petite pink roses with jeweled or encrusted gold beaded edge and interchanging gold beading between each draped mini rose panels going toward the center, where we encounter a pretty rose cluster.

From research, we believe this to be an American importer’s mark. As, we know, during the Early Nippon Period, some of the best Nippon have no marks whatsoever. The Nippon Period went from circa 1865-1921. 

The painstaking gold gilded beading work gives this plate a very delicate and lacy air of elegance that compliments the exquisite hand painted roses. Such gold gilded beaded work was quite the ear mark of the Nippon period. The Japanese were world renowned for their hand painting on fine porcelain and ranked with some of the worlds’ best.

COMMENT: This plate is truly a little jewel and is a lovely example of the porcelains from the earlier part of the late Nippon Period. It is deserving of a home in a Nippon Collection and makes a classy gift for a friend.

NIPPON PERIOD POTTERY & PORCELAIN

The Nippon period started in 1865; this period was known as the Royal Nippon Period. This period exhibited itself by use of deep rich dark cobalt blues, vibrant oranges, and intense yellows accentuated by extravagant use of lavish gold gilding upon pronounced porcelain forms and unique shapes. Most of the Early Royal Nippon porcelain did not carry manufacture marks. During the Meiji Period (1868-1912} much of the Nippon porcelain was decorated with gold.

As we approach the latter part of the Nippon period after (1912-1921), known as Late Nippon Period they become more conservative in use of gold and dark deep ground colors became less exuberant and the whiteness more revealing. Consequently pieces had less bold decorating and had more delicate and finer hand painted details to compensate for over use of larger floral and liberal use of embellished gold.

As we approach the early 1920‘s, the decline of quality is evident. After all, W.W. I. had wreaked havoc upon the world and many of the renowned porcelain factories took their tole. Many factories were bombed; what factories remained either had to cut back on production, lay off painters and workers or cease production which led to their demise or succumbing to larger wealthier factories.

CONDITION: Excellent! Gold and hand painting exhibit no wear.