Property of various owners YABU MEIZAN (1853-1934)A Large and Fine Satsuma Charger Meiji era (1868-1912), circa 1890 The deep dish decorated in polychrome enamels and gilt on a clear, crackled ground with an enormous elephant in thickly painted enamels decked out in an elaborate howdah and caparison decorated with a dragon roundel and scrolling floral vines, numerous Chinese children crowded into the howdah, on the animal's back, and around the feet, the rim decorated with a band of densely painted chrysanthemum heads bordered by key frets and dots within circles, signed on the underside in gilt Dai Nihon Meizan sei 14 3/8in (36.5cm) diameter For a nearly identical charger by Yabu Meizan in the Khalili Collection, see Oliver Impey et al., The Nasser D. Khalili Collection, vol.5, Ceramics, part II: Earthenware , London, Kibo Foundation, 1995, no. 4.