Vintage Japanese Kutani Hand-Painted Wall Plate – Mare & Foal Horse Motif, Scalloped Lobed Rim, Green and Cobalt Enamel, Japan 1960s

A dark brown mare bows her head towards her golden foal — the two figures hand-painted within a luminous white medallion, framed by a boldly patterned cobalt blue band and enclosed within a scalloped, petal-shaped rim of alternating green and white panels. It is a quietly affecting image, and one with deep roots in Japanese art.

Kutani ware (九谷焼), originating in the Kaga domain of Ishikawa Prefecture, has long been prized for its rich enamel palette and pictorial boldness. This piece belongs to the mid-century export tradition, its backstamp — "Hand Painted Kutani Decorative Wall Plaque Only" — confirming both the hand-painted execution and its original purpose as a display piece.

The rim panels alternate between green-striped grounds with single white plum blossoms ume — a symbol of perseverance) and foliate panels in deep green with gold and iron-red scrollwork, separated from the centre by a cobalt blue geometric diaper band. The unglazed terracotta foot rim is characteristic of traditional Kutani construction, not a defect. The mare and foal motif (親子馬, oyako-uma) is a longstanding symbol of family love and good fortune in East Asian decorative arts — for the collector, it carries both visual warmth and cultural resonance.

Supplied with its original red hanging cord. Ready to display.

• Type: Decorative Wall Plate
• Maker: Kutani (九谷焼)
• Origin: Japan
• Era: Circa 1960s–1970s
• Motif: Mare & Foal (親子馬)
• Border: Cobalt blue diaper band; green & white plum blossom panels; gilt & iron-red scrollwork
• Shape: Scalloped lobated rim (8-petal)
• Size: 9.5 in / 24 cm diameter
• Material: Porcelain
• Decoration: Hand-painted overglaze polychrome enamels
• Markings: "Hand Painted KUTANI Decorative Wall Plaque Only"; red hanging cord on reverse

Condition
This wall plate is in very good vintage condition. The enamel colours are vivid and well-preserved with no fading. No chips, cracks, or repairs are observed. The unglazed terracotta rim edge is characteristic of Kutani construction and reflects the natural clay body — this is not a defect.

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