The design of this blue-and-white charger is composed of domestic plants from different seasons often employed in the visual vocabulary of East Asian painting. The image of an open fan shows an abstracted pine tree arching over a rocky bank where a bird is poised. Tassels in the shape of peonies are attached to the end of the fan. Moving clockwise, is a scroll adorned with chrysanthemums, plum blossoms, and a wild orchid. The partially rolled-up section of the scroll reveals a pattern of peonies on the reverse. Next is a bold pattern, possibly representing fabric, of bamboo and peonies. Painting on porcelain that illustrates other media is a clever “art about art” theme that attracted customers in both domestic and international markets. As seen in many examples of Imari ware, the reverse has the painted character fuku 福, which means good fortune. Rather than acting as a seal to identify the maker or date of the piece, this mark serves as a bonus element of auspicious design.
—Sherry Fowler