According to Stitt's book Japanese Ceramics of the Last 100 Years Meito went out of business during WWII. However, Kovels states that it was acquired by Narumi during WWII, and continued to use the Meito backstamp.There are Meito with Made in Occupied Japan" marks. The English sites I have seen say the meaning is fine sword which would have these characters 名刀 but I really can't find much in Japanese.
According to "Collector's guide to Made in Japan Ceramics, Book IV" by Carole Bess White, the mark #64 with the Meito China in red above the green crown, Hand Painted Made in Japan is attributed to Nagoya Seito Sho which began business in 1908. The name was changed to Narumi Seito Sho by at least 1934, as her #75 mark is "Narumi China" one. Narumi continued to use the Meito name on some items for some time.
Made for Export
This is a rather common MEITO green mark
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MEITO 明陶 (Not the same Meito as above)
This is not related to the Meito/Narumi as the kanji are different.
I saw this "Meito" mark today on black vase in SoCal which looked a lot like this vase.
ReplyDeleteIf the the Meito mark (明陶) isn't related to Meito/Narumi do you know anything more about it?
ReplyDeleteI don’t. I have not researched this for a long time. If I come up with something more I will post it here.
ReplyDeleteI have chinaware inherited from our old sugar mill. Researching on the brand names and saw some cups with “Meito” name. Will continue searching more about this brand.
ReplyDeleteKotaro Yasukai studied under Gottfried Wagener (Wagner) (1831-92), a German chemist, lived since 1868 to his death in Japan, Professor in Chemistry at the University in Tokyo. He was working a chief engineer at Nippon Toki (later Noritake) but he was fired and started Teikoku Tokisho with a ceramic exporter, Tomeshiro Terasawa in 1911. The company was a very competitive to Nippon Toki (Noritake), but a Typhoon damage that they got, they have to get some investment from some other source from Nagoya to change their name to Nagoya Seitosho (Meito). Even with the investment by adding a tunnel kiln factory, their business was badly effected by the WWII. Nagoya Seitosho (Meito), Narumi Plant was purchased by Sumitomo Industries in 1943. However, this Narumi plant started Narumi Seitosho (Narumi China) that has become competitive again to become No. 2 in China market in Japan. The remainder of Nagoya Seitosho (Meito) closed their door in 1969.
ReplyDeleteExtracted from (https://jp.mercari.com/item/m89589772763)
I do not think that last Meito is the same company as Meito (Nagoya Seitosho)
Thank you.
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