Tuesday, May 17, 2011

ARITA YAKI (有田焼き) and IMARI (伊万里 き )-Ceramics of Saga and Nagasaki prefectures (Hizen)


Aritayaki (or also known as Imari named after the port by which it was exported) is made in Arita, Saga Prefecture. There are many styles which include Kakiemon, Nabeshima, and Ko-Imari.    
 Links:
                                              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imari_porcelain
                                      http://www.e-yakimono.net/guide/html/porcelain.html
                              http://www.meiji-imari.com/en/meijiimari_en/meijiimari03.html

There are several forms of pottery that fall under the Arita umbrella including: Arita, Imari, Hasami, Hizen,Okawachi,  Nabeshima, Mikawachi or Hirado. Hasami and Mikawachi are actually in Nagasaki Prefecture. The pottery in this area of Kyushu is all intertwined. Historically (before present day prefectures) this area of Kyushu was called Hizen. Because Arita and Imari are more internationally known they will all be grouped together here.


While visiting the Kyushu Ceramics Museum in Arita, Saga Prefecture I enjoyed my trip to the restroom there, and you can see why. Now that is a rest room!!



FUKAGAWA SEIJI

                         
 11.5cm vase,  mountain and stream mark

                                   
18 cm tall vase with modern mountain and stream mark.
  
                                     
 10 cm. covered dish with modern mountain and stream mark.





       
    12.5 cm diameter plate with modern mountain and stream mark.


 

22 cm vase with modern mountain and stream mark 



 
Modern mountain and stream mark 



Vintage rice bowls with just the mountain stream 
                     



This is the main store in Arita.

Here are some pages from a 1962-63 Mail order Catalog 
(from the Prudencio Rodriguez Collection)






















































































































































































































































Some links:
http://www.fukagawa-seiji.co.jp/index.php
http://www.fukagawa-seiji.co.jp/archive/index.php
http:

Blue Winery Collection:
http://www.fukagawa-seiji.co.jp/ec/products/list.php?category_id=10

OLD FUKAGAWA
Old Fukagawa is a term used for Fukagawa wares made from the beginning of the company so that would include the late 1800's through the first decade or two of the 20th century. The marks were hand painted back then so there is a bit more variety in the marks. There are some lovely examples at 
http://www.ac.cyberhome.ne.jp


   An example from my collection 
Mark used 1894-1920

                                    













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KORANSHA

           Mid Meiji Hichozan Fukagawa plate

                                             


       Link:    http://www.koransha.co.jp/koransha/koransha_mei.html
                                                         


                                                          


                                                         







This Koransha MARK looks like ones used early to mid 20th century (I would guess around 1930)





This mark is from the 1970's


Fairly modern Koransha MARK Id say 1980's~




"Ochid Lace"


Made for Rotary International 


I visited the Arita in February.  This is the main store

http://www.koransha.co.jp/koransha/koransha_english.html


                                                                  ******************************************
 IMAEMON (今右衛門 )-Iro Nabeshima

Iro Nabeshima, in the Edo period was only made for the Lords. The family of Imaemon Imaizumi was commissioned  to apply the overglaze enamels. Since the Meiji era the family has done the whole production process. The secrets are passed down from parent to one child of the family. Imaemon XIII was designated as a Living National Treasure. In 2002 his son Masato succeeded  him as Imaemon XIV.


                                             
       This is a plate made by Imaemon XIV kiln

                                                           
                                                               
Imaemon XIV Kiln Mark
       
             Imaemon XII kiln      
            
                                     

                          This was made by Imaemon XIII kiln


                                                       ****************************************
ICHII GAMA (一位窯)
Tanaka Kazuaki (田中一晃) b.1933

EIHO GAMA


HAKUSAN TOKI (Hakusan Porcelain Company)
(Hasami Yaki)



http://www.hakusan-porcelain.co.jp/about.html

GENEMON
Tatebayashi Genemon




KAKIEMON
Sakaida Kakiemon

I believe this is by Kakiemon XIII. 

SHUNEMON



KISEN (其泉)


           其泉作 有田焼 色絵 春秋文豆丸型香炉



 NISHIYAMA
(Hasami-yaki)




Nishiyama Mark










                                           


    


                                                                 














Circa 1970's


RINKUROU GAMA


Hasami Yaki 
Rinkurou Gama 林九郎窯
The kiln has been producing beautiful wares since 1968


YAZAEMON




********************************
KIYOHIDE KILN



Aritayaki tea cups Kiyohide Kiln MARK




Aritayaki deep bowls Kiyohide Kiln MARK




Aritayaki deep bowls Kiyohide Kiln



Kiyohide Kiln MARK




Footed dishes-Kiyohide
       
              Arita Kiyohide 有田 清秀
                                                       


















***************************************


KINPO 
(Hasami Yaki of Nagasaki Prefecture, often grouped with Arita)








                                                    *********************************************
KOZAN GAMA (琥山窯)






















AZUCHI KILN
(Imari) Located in Okawachi

Azuchi Kiln



      

RYUZAN

Ryuzan 柳山






***********************************************


TETSUSABURO KILN
(Hizen)



                                                     ********************************************


MIKAWACHI-YAKI

Mikawachi-yaki is actually from Nagasaki Prefecture and is considered as part of Hirado pottery, although it is usually grouped in the Arita catagory.




Yamato MARK


                                                                            *******************************************



NABESHIMA (鍋島)



(Right to left) Nabeshima Yuuzan-gama


  This lovely incense burner was made by Oshu (大秀)


KAWAZOE SEIZAN GAMA



NABESHIMA/KARAKO




                                        These plates and covered bowls have three children at play





This cup has five children at play


     Nabeshima Sehyou (鍋島瀬兵)
       http://www.sehyou.com
http://www.2016arita.com/potteries/sehyou-co-ltd

This is the style of painting that has children in play, usually chasing butterflies. It is taken after Chinese painting. It is said that this style of porcelain painting "Karako" meaning Chinese child or children was produced for three levels of social status. The three children design was made for the common people, the five children design was made for people of a higher status (daimyo or lord and clan) and the seven children design was made for the shogun. The sometsuke (blue and white) is most common but there are Karako designs in other colors as well, red being perhaps the second most common. 
Update: This is in Japanese but discusses the use of 3,5,7 children motif. 



HIJIRIYAMA-GAMA




                                 






**********************************************


KAZAN-GAMA
http://aritakazan.com







Kazan MARK

                                        






















SHUHO-GAMA




           















  SHUHO MARK    


                                       

           This vase by SHUHO is done in the old Kakiemon style. The colors used, flowers and birds, and the large areas of open white "canvas" are typical of Kakiemon.

                                         

                                           
This is another common SHUHO Mark


                                           













*********************************************

SENHO or Senpo





         







 Senho (senpo) MARK 

                                                     



************************************


                                                            Arita. Mansen?

                                                          ************************
MANJIRO


                 

TOMINAGA GENROKU





KEIZAN GAMA (桂山窯)

This piece was in my "Unknown" section for a while. I finally discovered its origin. This is made in Arita by KEIZAN. 


SHOUEMON (松右エ門 )

YAMATOKU (ヤマトく or 山徳)











Tezuza Kinsei (often found with a Yamatoku incised mark)




GENERIC ARITA MARKS

                              Showa Retro

Generic Imari Marks






This is a great book for identifying Fukagawa, Koransha and Seiji Kaisha during the Meiji period and into the first part of Taisho. It is in Japanese but there are many marks and some have western dates associated with them. 

Arita/Hasami Koushou Gama 幸祥窯



INOUE MANJI-Living National Treasure




*********
SAGA GAMA






Kake no Tani Gama (kiln)



10 comments:

  1. Just came upon your blog while looking for some japanese porcelain marks, and I believe the unidentified mark in the picture just above the "Aritayaki meoto or "couple" yunomi tea cups, Kiyohide Kiln", is Takamine.

    Roger

    ReplyDelete
  2. Roger, Thanks for your comment. I think this is the reading as well, but I want to verify by Japanese sources before I post it. Do you have a reference?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi
    This is great site but do you have older japanese marks.
    I am looking marks from 1920-1950 like most european japanese items.
    I'am holding my hands vase with Fukagawa mark but it is not vertically it is horizontally with 3 marks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I researched your description a bit. I did find a 1900 (Meiji 1933) plate with the mountain mark followed horizontally by the Fukagawa Sei (深川製). I don't know if this helps. The link was takashimaya.co.jp but I found it through google images in Japanese.

      Delete
    2. Oops, that should be Meiji 33 not 1933.

      Delete
  4. Hello Marmie! Can you please clarify for me, when you say "modern mountain and stream mark " in regards to the Fukagawa marks, what you mean by that, do you have a date/ year range? I know some folks use the word "modern" for early 20th century as in "not an antique", but we tend to use the word "vintage" these days for pre-WWII, so was hoping for clarification! Thanks so much, Sharon

    ReplyDelete
  5. The standardized mountain stream mark has been used since at least the 1960's or 1970's. Some confuse the similar hand painted mark from the early 20th century with the more modern mark. Fukagawa has used various mountain steam designs through their history which are repeated in some form. One must look at other clues besides just the mark as you know well. Finding catalogs from the time of production and sale is helpful. The Fukagawa company site has a few of the old designs and marks in their archives.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I was wondering if someone could help me recognising a porcelain mark from a small plate I bought in a flea market. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A blog isn’t the way to ask for ID’s. I recommend going to a Facebook group that does ID’s. Try “Collecting Japanese Ceramics and Arts” Facebook group.

      Delete

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