This is a typical Kutani aka-e plate from the Meiji period (probably around 1900) with decoration in red and gold, showing several cranes in a landscape full with plants.

The plate is 18 cm in diameter and in perfect condition.

The reverse bears the mark "Kutani Bizan" in Japanese characters and also, unusually for Kutani porcelain, has three flowers decorating the rim.

Eight-sided Imari plate from the early Meiji period (1860-80), decorated in underglaze blue as well as overglaze colours and gold. It depicts four reserves with rabbits jumping above a stormy sea and four with "shishi" (mythical oriental lion-dogs known as "foo" in Chinese) as well as a central circle with a phoenix. A similar plate is featured in Nancy Schiffer's "Japanese Export Porcelain", second edition.

No marks, 18 cm diameter, excellent state.

This Kutani plate (overglaze decoration, with extensive gilding) is from the very late Meiji or early Taisho period (1910s).

It is decorated with a very well painted temple scene, showing both adults and children. One can look for quite some time at all the wonderful detail.

The reverse is (unusually for Kutani porcelain) decorated with cranes ("tsuru") around the rim and bears the mark "Dai Nippon Kutani Ota zo Kaga koku" in Japanese characters, gold on red)...

This typical Kutani plate was probably made in the last years of the Meiji era (1910-15).

It is intricately decorated in overglaze enamels (mostly red, pink, grey and black) and richly gilded, depicting a bijin (beautiful woman) with her child in one reserve and a landscape with bird in another.The background consists of butterflies and various curlicues.

The reverse just shows the phrase "Kutani Seikodou" in Japanese characters in overglaze red.

Diameter 19 cm; ...

Beautiful Imari bowl from the Edo era (around 1800).

Decorated in vibrant colours (overglaze enamel), depicting a scholar riding a flying crane in stylized clouds. The side of the bowl has six reserves, three of which are showing dragons, the other three, phoenixes. The outside is decorated with flowers, leaves and a brush. The bottom is unmarked and has an unglazed ring between the central circle and the footrim.

This decoration is extremely rare and very sought after...

This is an Imari soba choko (cup used for eating buckwheat noodles) from the late Edo period (also known as "bakumatsu").

It is decorated in traditional Imari style with flowers, bamboo plants and stylized vines in overglaze red, orange, green, greyish-purple and gold as well as two different shades of underglaze blue. The inside bears the stylized "three friends of winter" - bamboo, plum and pine. The underside is undecorated and unmarked...

This is a paper thin small Kutani eggshell cup and saucer ensemble, decorated with delicate flowers on a partly brownish, partly greenish background.

It was made in the Showa period and bears the mark "Hayakawa" in Japanese writing on the revwerse.

The saucer has a diameter of 10 cm, the cup of 6 cm. Both items are in perfect state.

Very rare and beautiful lidded rice bowl from the mid-Edo period (around 1750).

On the outside it is decorated with a tree which extends from the bowl to the lid. The inside shows details of a festively decorated Japanese shrine. Both bowl and lid show a spurious "Dai Ming" mark in underglaze blue.

Diameter 12 cm, height 8.5 cm, perfect state, very little rubbing on the gold

This Kutani plate in aka-e style (overglaze decoration, with red colour dominating) is from the late Meiji period (probably around 1910).

It is intricately decorated and gilded, showing six auspiciously shaped reserves with flowers, birds, and Japanese people. The reverse is undecorated, except for the mark "Watano" (in kanji), written in overglaze red.

Diameter 18 cm, perfect state.

This plate was made in the middle part of the Meiji era (around 1885) by a company called "Seiji Kaisha", which was owned by four Japanese families, one of them the famous Fukagawa family. The plate is ribbed and scalloped and has a gilded rim. The front is decorated in overglaze enamels (mostly various shades of green and red) and gilded, depicting a garden with flowers, leaves, birds and clouds. There is a circular central reserve with a stylized landscape in underglaze blue...