The Piece

Fukagawa Arita Hand-Painted Porcelain Dinnerware Set

Japan, late 1940s

A cohesive mid-century Japanese porcelain dinnerware set produced by Fukagawa of Arita, featuring hand-painted landscape scenes influenced by traditional sumi-e ink painting. Mist-softened mountains, pagodas, pine trees, and subtle cherry blossom accents drift across a luminous porcelain ground, framed by restrained gilt scrollwork.

All pieces share a consistent glaze tone, decorative hand, and period backstamp, indicating original production as a unified export service rather than an assembled grouping.

Historical Context

Porcelain production in Arita, Japan dates back to the early 1600s, marking the birthplace of Japanese porcelain and establishing one of the world’s most influential ceramic traditions. Fukagawa emerged from this lineage as a highly respected workshop, known for preserving technical and artistic standards across centuries of change.

By the late 1940s, in the immediate post-war period, only a small number of Arita manufacturers continued exporting hand-painted wares to the West. Fukagawa was among the few that maintained traditional painting techniques while adapting forms for Western dining customs. This set reflects that moment of transition, where centuries-old craftsmanship met mid-century international taste.

Unlike later mass-produced export porcelain, these pieces retain the softness, variation, and intentional use of negative space that signal true hand decoration.

Product Details

Maker: Fukagawa
Origin: Arita, Saga Prefecture, Japan
Date: Late 1940s
Material: Fine porcelain
Decoration: Hand-painted ink-wash landscape with gilt accents
Mark: Fukagawa / ARITA / HAND PAINTED with Mount Fuji crest

Set Includes:

• 8 bowls (soup or pasta size)

• 1 extra-large oval serving platter

• 1 large oval serving platter

• 1 gravy boat with matching underplate

Condition:
Very good vintage condition. No visible chips or cracks. Light, even wear to gilt consistent with age. Glaze remains smooth and luminous.

Why It Belongs in Your Home

This set bridges functional dining ware and quiet decorative presence. The monochrome landscape palette pairs naturally with wood, stone, and neutral interiors, while the hand-painted details reward close viewing without overwhelming a space.

It is refined without fragility, historically grounded without feeling formal, and complete enough to serve both display and use with intention.

From Viridian Eclection

We seek objects that carry lineage without feeling locked in the past. This late-1940s Fukagawa Arita set reflects over three centuries of porcelain tradition distilled into a form that remains relevant today. It is a piece of living history, meant to be seen, handled, and appreciated over time.