Offering an 8-inch plate of Koransha's Imari-yaki, color-painted, black-ground (brown-ground) peony design, Black Hawthorne, produced between 1875 and 1880 during the early Meiji period. Based on the red-painted orchid mark in the inscription, the "Black Hawthorne" designation, and the typeface of the inscription, this is a rare piece made by Eizaemon Fukagawa of Koransha between 1875 and 1880. This mark was not used before that time, as Koransha was not yet established. Koransha was founded in April 1875 by Suminosuke Fukami, Shozo Tsuji, Kamenosuke Tezuka, and Eizaemon Fukagawa VIII. This was the first porcelain manufacturing company in Japan. The company name "Koransha" is an analogy for the fellowship of gentlemen who share a common heart, and it was also chosen because it sounds similar to "kaolin," the Western term for porcelain clay. The establishment was driven by the expansion of overseas export opportunities following the Meiji Restoration, and after exhibiting at the 1873 Vienna World's Fair, a group of enthusiasts gathered to participate in the upcoming 1876 Philadelphia World's Fair. This work is a masterpiece by Eizaemon Fukagawa VIII. The black or brown ground is reminiscent of pieces made at the Jingdezhen kiln in China during the Kangxi period (1662-1722) of the Qing dynasty. These pieces, which were popular among European and American collectors from the late 18th to the early 19th centuries, were known as "Black Hawthorne." Hawthorne refers to the Western hawthorn. Research suggests that this popularity arose because Western powers had expanded into China. Works modeled after Black Hawthorne are on display at the "Koransha Old Ceramics Exhibition Hall" on the second floor of the Koransha headquarters. The design features gradations of peony in underglaze blue, peony and plum blossoms in overglaze, and bamboo grass in gold on the lower part, demonstrating meticulous craftsmanship. The blue color is Western cobalt. The use of gos and Western cobalt creates a beautiful color. As the inscription indicates, this is an early work from the founding of Koransha, making it a rare piece with an extremely limited distribution. The piece is in excellent condition, with minimal wear and tear from the passage of time, and the gold gilding is beautifully preserved, indicating that it is in near-unused condition. Dimensions: 24.0 cm x 3.0 cm (height). Type: Pottery Type: Porcelain Kiln: Imari-yaki/Arita-yaki