Postby davidross » Fri Mar 23, 2012 8:55 pm
The most probable reading of the inscription is "Ichi Moku Kai," e.g. "First Thursday Club," a group meeting once a month, on the first Thursday. As Rauls has already intimated, there are countless possibilities, as there are many first Thursday clubs for studying, hobbies, games, arts, and so on, in every part of Japan.
The traditional kanji for "kai" (seen on the plate) was officially simplified in the early 1950s, but in proper names the older kanji was often retained for many years after that down to the present. The use of the older character only means there is some possibility (in this case slight, in my opinion) of the piece dating to before 1950.
Rauls has already given the translation of "Yusho," which generally corresponds to "First Place" or "First Prize."
Having seen many of these presentation pieces in Japanese homes, I would concur with Rauls that this is post-WWII, probably 1960s or 70s. Were it prewar, when such clubs and awards were the exclusive domain of the leisure class, it would almost certainly have been more crisply inscribed in a calligraphic hand or with stylized kanji, and with more complete information (the logo/seal or full name of the presenting club or parent organization, the name of the recipient, the date or event of presentation).
To my eye, while the engraving is quite legible, the style is rather rudimentary. The sparseness of information in the engraving, and the lack of a maker's mark (assuming that "GINSEI" is the only mark applied at the factory) point to postwar mass-produced silverplate, but this is only one opinion, and based on photos at that.
