{HISTORY}

Hand-painted florals surrounded by gold and deep red (almost burgundy) flourishes make this mid-size porcelain platter not only a helpful server but also a colorful work of art. 

Made in Japan by Hira China during the 1940s to 1950s, this pattern, although unnamed, is a close match to their Regina pattern as well as other similar designs made by Meito, Royal Embassy, and Noritake. That complementary color palette and similar style make collecting vintage Japanese porcelain dishes of this era especially fun for colorful mix-and-match sets and creative tablescape styling.  

There is not much information available on Hira China other than that they were active during the WWII years and shortly after, and also that they exported dishware to the US. But what they lack in origin story they make up for in beauty. With neatly hand-painted florals, a gold shimmery stripe around the rim, and a classic style, this platter is a great representative of the quality, craftsmanship, and design aesthetics of the time period.

Many Japanese porcelain pieces of this era found their way to America via soldiers stationed overseas who were looking for gifts to bring back to their families. Whether this platter was part of such a gesture, we'll never know, but it has been so well taken care of during its eighty years of life that we like to imagine that it was someone's most prized possession.  

Especially festive for the holiday season thanks to the red and gold flourishes around the rim, this platter makes anything from sushi to steamed vegetables to pot roast and holiday desserts look beautifully appealing. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• Colors include pale yellow, deep red, mustard, celadon, raspberry, tomato red, pale pink, lemon, blueberry, gold, and pea.
• Hand-painted
• Stamped on back with maker's mark 

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition, this platter contains no chips, cracks, spots, or staining. There are three impressed dimple marks near the thin gold stripe in the center, which are manufacturing flaws as they are under the glaze. There is one black dot near the red flowers in the center of the platter on the front. That is a natural occurrence found in porcelain clay. The colors are bright and vibrant, and the gold stripe around the rim is still very bright and shimmery. Please see photos. 

{SIZE}

Measures 12.5 inches (length) x 9.25 inches (width) and weighs just a midge over 2 lbs.