"Maple Leaf" #52. This Antique Nippon Wall Plaque is magnificent. It has 2 factory drilled holes in the back for hanging and is considered Rare! It features Chief Joseph, the great Nez Perce Indian Chief dressed in his finest chief's clothes and headdress. The decal portrait of Chief Joseph is surrounded with hand applied moriage trim of crossed arrows and the staff of power, which is entwined with rope and buffalo horns. The Moriage decorations on this plaque are extremely elaborate.
It's in the Book: This same Nippon Wall Plaque with Chief Joseph on it can be found on the front cover of Joan Van Patten's book "ABC's of Collecting Nippon Porcelain" and also on page 115 of the same book. (see the 2nd picture) And, unlike the Wall Plaque of Chief Joseph featured in Van Patten's book on Nippon, which is marked "M in Wreath", #47, circa 1911, the Nippon Wall Plaque in my listing is "Maple Leaf", #52, circa 1891, making it most likely much older than the wall plaque in Van Patten's book on Nippon.
Size: This Rare Antique Nippon Wall Plaque is 10 inches (25.40 mm) across.
Condition: Remember, this antique Nippon Wall Plaque is well over 100 years old. I do not see any missing Moriage. There is a mark of some kind on the back of the wall plaque which can not be seen from the front of the wall plaque. The mark is 1 1/2 inches long and at the widest point it is 1/4 inches wide. The 7th picture is of the mark on the backside of the wall plaque. There is some discoloration in portions of the white moriage on the edge, as seen in the 8th picture. My pictures are an accurate representation of this piece, so please take a close look.
Mark/Backstamp: Authentic Nippon Mark, "Maple Leaf", #52, circa 1891. The actual mark on the Nippon Wall Plaque is seen in the last picture.