Raymond Waites for Toyo Decorative Toleware Plate

This is a circular decorative plate crafted from metal, specifically of the style known as toleware. The piece features a high-contrast hand-painted design set against a matte black ground. The central motif depicts a stylized red peony blooming from a cluster of sage and olive-green lanceolate leaves, all arranged within a white-and-blue Chinoiserie-style cachepot planter. The planter rests on a depicted orange-brown tabletop surface, creating a still-life composition. The rim is finished with a thin, contrasting gold-tone or ochre painted border. Regarding condition, the plate shows visible signs of age and handling, including minor surface scuffs, small areas of paint thinning, and tiny flecks of white debris or dust across the black field. There is a noticeable nick or wear mark on the left edge of the golden rim. The quality of the brushwork is intentional and folk-art inspired, characteristic of the designer's 'Village' or Global-chic aesthetic. This piece was produced by Toyo Trading Co. in collaboration with American designer Raymond Waites, likely dating from the 1980s or 1990s. The construction is lightweight and thin, intended primarily for ornamental display rather than utilitarian dining use.