FUKAGAWA SEIJI, KORANSHA, SEIJI KAISHA

There is a lot of confusion on the various marks used by the Fukagawa Seiji and Koransha companies over the years. When you check out the various auction sites you will find many fairly modern pieces being sold as Antiques. Some Koransha items are seen advertised as Fukagawa and visa versa. One must know their stuff if they decide to purchase items on these sites. Seiji Kaisha was also an off shoot of the original Koransha company.

I am building a collection of marks with their general time periods. It is a work in progress.  

I am thankful for the book "Meiji Arita..." for help with additional marks of the Meiji period.

Both Fukagawa Seiji and Koransha were established by the Fukagawa Family (with others) and they have held the leadership in both companies throughout. Seiji Kaisha is interwoven in the mix as well, having been established by Koransha people (which lasted about twenty years).

The Fukagawa family made ceramics for generations but in 1879 they established Koransha. After the death of the father in 1889, the second son began Fukagawa Seiji in 1894. Obviously the companies are intertwined as they are both headed by Fukagawa descendants.

Here are some helpful sites for both Koransha and Fukagawa Seiji  (some English, some in Japanese with great pictures):

https://www.koransha.co.jp/koransha/koransha_mei.html

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

http://www.fukagawa-seiji.co.jp/cotp/forenglish.html

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

http://www.ac.cyberhome.ne.jp/~momochi-linden/aaa.html 

This one is in Japanese but has some Fukagawa and Koransha marks ranging from late Meiji to early Showa period.

http://home.h00.itscom.net/shiokawa/japaneseporcelain.html

                                                                  MARKS

I will break the marks down by decade as a general rule, but keep in mind that there will be overlap as Fukagawa/ Koransha did not start and stop marks by decade. Some marks continued for decades. 

Circa1860's

           Hichozan Fukagawa Sei c. 1868-1870

Circa 1870's

Circa 1880's

        

Circa 1890's

Lesser quality ware sold after the close of the company

         Seiji Kaisha 1879-1897 ( the Seiji Kaisha mark was used for several years after the close of the company). The lesser quality wares were decorated after the close of the company by former workers and others who used the Seiji a Kaisha mark. Trademark laws were not created at that time. Marked blanks were later decorated and sold by others. 

Sharon Meredith provided the pictures of this wonderful Koransha plate. The "Fukagawa Zo" mark was used in the latter Meiji period before Fukagawa Seiji broke off from Koransha. I place it in the 1890's because according to the Koransha website the "Fukagawa Zo" mark was used before the break up in 1894, however it possible that it was made in the mid to late 1880's as there is a somewhat similar plate in red under 1880's in the archives of the Koransha site. 

  Fukagawa Mark believed used from the mid 1890's through first quarter of the 20th Century

    Circa 1900's-1920

 This Dai Nippon Arita Fukagawa Sei Mark is listed under Meiji era in the Fukagawa archives. 

                       C. 1900-1910

     

      Circa 1920's

According to the Koransha company website this mark was from the early Showa Period 1926~

      Circa 1930's

       This Koransha vase is believed to be circa 1930's

Pre war

Pre war

      Circa 1940's

1941

During the war years production continued domestically to some extent under government control, but there were no exports.

      Circa 1950's/1960's

       Used on dinner ware for foreign markets

                               

                      

                          Koransha   (*continues)

      Circa 1970's~

Fukagawa, Kanyo Sometsuke. Nancy N. Schiffer's book Imari, Satsuma and Other Japanese Export Ceramics 1997 puts this mark at 1977, design by Iwao Fukagawa.

This is Fukagawa, marked Kanyo sometsuke 官窯染付

     

KORANSHA

      From 1975~

Circa 1980~

             Fukagawa

Fukagawa Iroe Saiji Mark from latter part of 20th Century (c.1980's)

                         

Modern Fukagawa mark with red "double happiness" mark on inside lid. 

  

         Current Fukagawa Mark

I saw this at an antique shop in Japan. The shopkeeper was quite sure it was old Fukagawa from before the war. I had serious doubts about that even though some of the decoration gave an old style impression. After googling for a while it was quite evident to me that this piece was quite modern, no earlier than the 1980’s and likely later than that. I saw some boxes with barcodes! That would put it near the end of the 20th. It is possible that the old style design was part of a new product line. I saw sake sets, tea sets, wine cups, lidded rice bowls and more with this same motif. I’ll try to check into it more. In any case it is quite a striking piece with the contrast between the orange and the blue /white, finished off with the gold cranes.

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2015 Store Fukuoka Daimaru Display

Also see:  http://www.meiji-imari.com/en/meijiimari_en/meijiimari03.html

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

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Current design Koransha set of five dishes

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2019 Visit to the Fukagawa Main Store in Arita

Hizen Arita Sarayama 

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://kougeihin.jp/en/facilities/saga/3203

                                              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!!

History:

https://www.town.arita.lg.jp/rekishi/kiji003586/3_586_11_62453b0c22fd5dwRcBrGA.pdf

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
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.

The blue pattern has been made from at least mid 1970's and is still sold today.

                  The small plum blossom dish has been sold from at least late 1970's.

                               
         

       

    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

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 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

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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. 

See:http://www.kaino.jp/1kobijutsu_shousai/tougei_sonota/kakiemon_hyou_yunomi.html

SHUNEMON

KISEN (其泉) From 1978 House brand of Shobido (賞美堂本店)

           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

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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
                                                       

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

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KOZAN GAMA (琥山窯)

AZUCHI KILN
(Imari) Located in Okawachi

Azuchi Kiln

      

RYUZAN

Ryuzan 柳山

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TETSUSABURO KILN

(Hizen)

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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

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NABESHIMA (鍋島)

(Right to left) Nabeshima Yuuzan-gama

  

This lovely incense burner was made by Ōshu (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. 

 http://www.iris-hermit.com/arita/history.html#mikawati

HIJIRIYAMA-GAMA

                                 






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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


                                           

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SENHO or Senpo

   

         







 Senho (senpo) MARK 

                                                     



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                                                            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. 

ゆ

SHOUEMON (松右エ門 )

YAMATOKU (ヤマトく or 山徳)

　　　　　　　　　ヤマトク　(Yamatoku)

　　　　　　　　山徳 (Yamatoku)

Arita Yamatoku Gama 有田　山徳窯

Tezuza Kinsei (often found with a Yamatoku incised mark)

GENERIC ARITA MARKS

                              Showa Retro

Generic Imari Marks

                                   IMARI 伊万里

                                                   IMARI 伊万里

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

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SAGA GAMA

Kake no Tani Gama (kiln)

掛ノ谷窯

Here are links for a few of the kilns: It is all in Japanese but it is worth looking at the pictures.
http://www.imaemon.co.jp/
http://www.arita-ikeda.co.jp/
http://www.hachigamenet.ne.jp/~azuchi/
http://www.iwao.co.jp/
http://www.kakiemon.co.jp/
http://www.kanezengama.co.jp/
http://www.kawazoe-seizan.com/
http://www.gen-emon.co.jp/
http://www.kyuemongama.com/
http://www.kouyougama.co.jp/
http://www.kozan-gama.co.jp/
http://www.koransha.co.jp/
http://www.imari-kosengama.com/
http://www.sinemon.com/
http://www.shingama.com/
http://www.anrakugama.jp/
http://www.aritaseibu.co.jp/
http://www.sehyou.com/