Arita Blue White Charger
An arita blue white charger brings hand-painted Japanese porcelain and striking cobalt pigment into your room.
Arita Blue White Charger
When you search for an arita blue white charger, you are looking at large decorative plates, dishes, and platters originating from Japan. These pieces span several centuries, including the Edo and Meiji periods, stretching from the seventeenth century through to the early twentieth century.
The version you are most likely to meet on this page is a large porcelain charger or plate dating from the nineteenth or early twentieth century. These items often feature traditional Japanese Imari styles, scrolling foliate borders, and hand-painted motifs such as cranes or koi carp.
Beyond the standard circular chargers, the selections include octagonal plates, bowls, and pairs of matching large display chargers. The forms serve primarily as decorative centerpieces or wall-hung display plates rather than functional tableware.
How they were made
Potters shaped fine porcelain clay by hand before applying cobalt underglaze or cobalt pigment to create intricate blue and white patterns. Some pieces incorporate additional decorative elements such as enamel, glaze, and gold leaf or gold gilt.
Kiln firing transformed the painted clay and mineral pigments into durable ceramic objects with vitreous surfaces. Artisans executed detailed hand-painted designs, utilising cobalt underglaze to achieve the deep blue tones characteristic of Arita ware.
Watch for swimming koi carp painted across the porcelain surface, caught forever mid-splash in cobalt blue.
What varies in quality
The fineness of the hand-painted brushwork dictates much of the visual success in these ceramics. Crisp cobalt underglaze lines and deliberate pictorial subjects like koi carp or cranes distinguish superior examples from simpler work.
Scale and form also separate pieces within the range, as larger chargers and unusual shapes require greater skill in the kiln to prevent distortion. The presence of additional decorative enhancements like gold leaf further marks out the upper tier.
The Arita Blue White Charger Glossary
- Arita
- A Japanese town and the historic centre of porcelain production where skilled potters created these blue and white wares.
- Imari
- A style of Japanese export porcelain traditionally characterised by blue, red, and gold designs, though pieces on this page focus on blue and white.
- Meiji Period
- A period of Japanese history lasting from 1868 to 1912, associated with hand-painted porcelain production seen in many of these listings.
- Edo Period
- The period in Japanese history spanning from 1603 to 1867, representing the earlier origin dates found among these ceramics.
- Cobalt Underglaze
- A mineral pigment applied to raw porcelain clay before glazing and firing, producing a permanent blue design beneath the glossy surface.
Arita Blue White Charger: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I display an arita blue white charger safely?
These large porcelain plates require sturdy wall brackets designed for heavy ceramics or dedicated plate stands with a secure base.
Keep them away from high-traffic walkways where accidental knocks might dislodge the heavy porcelain body.
What is the difference between Arita and Imari ware?
Arita refers to the Japanese town and production region where the porcelain was manufactured, while Imari is the port from which these ceramics were shipped.
Over time, Imari became a stylistic term for the colourful and patterned wares originating from the Arita kilns.
Are these chargers safe to use for food?
Antique porcelain chargers are intended primarily for display, decoration, and collection rather than daily dining use.
Historic glazes and pigments may not meet modern food safety standards, so keep them away from the kitchen table.
How can I tell a Meiji period piece from an Edo period piece?
Edo period items date from before 1868 and often exhibit earlier stylistic traditions, while Meiji period pieces fall between 1868 and 1912.
Detailed dating relies on stylistic clues in the hand-painted motifs and the specific characteristics of the porcelain body.