Foreman's Old Japanese Sendai Plate

This Japanese Plate was given to my brother, James Foreman, for his sixth birthday in July 1950. The family was living in Sendai, Japan, due to our Father being stationed in Sendai as part of the US Army's occupation as an officer in charge of civilian affairs. A family servant gave my brother this plate saying: as she was the last surviving member of an ancient Samurai clan and having no heirs, she gave this to my brother as to an heir - hoping him to be as noble as her ancestors. This plate is the last surviving porcelain of the Samurai clan "crested service" and was as she said "very old".

I'm acting as my brothers agent and have shown these photos to the Head of the Ceramics Department at College of the Desert (Palm Desert, CA) Ron Evans. Mr. Evans studied extensively in Japan, working and studying with master potters in Sendai, Japan - so I was interested in his opinion.

He told me that the impression in the center on the back of the plate was made to test/show the quality of the porcelain revealed in the volume and angle of the slump. He also indicated that the tan color (implying gold) with the lack of actual gold was displaying information that the plate was made before the 19th Century. The Persimmon color (judged from the photos) is an ancient color that cannot be reproduced in current methods.