Shimamura Sei (島村製) made by Shimamura

Shimamura decorated porcelain for export in the latter Meiji period and early Taisho period. 

http://blog.livedoor.jp/momo2011/archives/2459846.html

OHI YAKI-Ceramics of Ishikawa Prefecture

Links:

http://www.city.kanazawa.ishikawa.jp/dentou_e/ceramic/ohiyaki/ohiyakie.html

http://www.e-yakimono.net/guide/html/ohi-yaki.html

http://www.ohimuseum.com/museum/history.html?fbclid=IwAR21yYK6F-F5wIob3Txqi6F3fN95UOPuFL2Ox55P_t-75nXEgjE3vlPqmiI#9th

Taisho Era Ceramics in All Their Variety!

*Under construction. I will continue to add to this over time. 

The Taisho Era (1912-1926) with all its ups and downs produced wares from the dull to the divine, from the mediocre to the magnificent. This post will be mostly deal with the everyday wares that are readily available. As ceramics did not magically change precisely decade by decade, emperor reign by emperor reign, there will be some overlap. Technically some examples provided here may be very late Meiji, but most were made during the Taisho era, likewise some late Taisho era wares may overlap with very early Showa. In the Taisho era ceramics became more mass produced. As demand rose the more rapidly wares were produced. Some wares are downright sloppy, while others are quite nicely done.

Export Ware 輸出陶器

Much of the Taisho period included Nippon marked wares (1891-1921), which were exported in great numbers to the west. In the latter part of the Taisho period was the start of the "Made in Japan" period beginning Sept 1921. Morimura/ Noritake was producing many lovely western style wares for an ever demanding market. Many other companies popped up with similar designs which causes headaches for collector's today. Many of the records for these companies have been lost or destroyed making it nearly impossible to attribute some marks to particular companies. Some of these companies disappeared after a short time, others were bought by other companies, some continued for many years and some are still in business today. 

Transferware small dishes for export with "Japan" marked on it. This was made after September of 1921. They are similar in size to the one made for the domestic market. They must have really been cranking out those plates given the quality shown here. 

These were likely made in the early 1920's for export. You can see that the wobbly dish (very uneven) as well as the kiln flaws indicate rapid mass production with little quality control. They are, however, quaint and an example of trying to meet the high demand in the export market. 

The saucer size (11cm) is the same as the small mamezara made domestically during the Taisho period. 

Domestic Transfer ware 印判

The small plates above are all transferware of the late Meiji to Taisho era. These are very typical of the wares of the period and they are found in abundance in most antiques shops in Japan. Most come in blue and white but green was also popular. The quality varies as you can see. The typical small plate re called "mamezara" (bean plate), were generally 11cm in diameter, where as in the early Meiji era they were about 10.5cm.

This 24cm serving plate uses the old motifs but uses transfer, some hand painting and luster. The colors used were updated to the "times". I would date this between 1921-1930. If not for the luster I would have marked it somewhat earlier. 

This transfer ware small dish is a bit nicer (clearer transfer, mounding and glaze) and so probably is later Taisho or perhaps early Showa era. 

This is a Kutani lid to a bowl that probably dates to the Taisho period according to similar wares I have seen.

Sango China

 These were obviously found in a thrift shop but have the typical Sango mark.                                                    Mid 20th century c. 1960's

Helpful Vocabulary When Researching Japanese Ceramics

Vocabulary when searching for Japanese Ceramics

*I will be adding to this list

Dating

  (江戸) Edo Period (1603-1868)

  (江戸前期) Early Edo period (roughly 1600's)

（江戸中期）Mid Edo period (roughly 1700's) 

  (元禄時代) Genroku Jidai (1688-1704) "The Golden Age" 

（江戸後期）Late Edo period (roughly early to mid 1800's)     

   (天呆時代) Tenpo Jidai 1830-1844

（江戸幕末）Edo Bakumatsu period (1853-1867)

（明治前期 Early Meiji Period (1868-) 

*decline in quality 1872-1881 export production increased 150 fold, world market     collapse 1882

（明治後期～大正）Late Meiji ~Taisho period (1898~)

 *increased development of mass production

（大正）Taisho period (1912-1926) 

   (戦前) Pre-war

（昭和戦前) Pre War Showa (1926- WWII)

 *during the war only domestic production under government control 

   (昭和戦後) Post War Showa (1946-)

   (昭和) Showa (1926-1989)

   (現代) Gen Dai  contemporary

 Japanese Ceramic Export Eras

Here is a rough guideline for EXPORTS to the USA from Meiji period onwards:

1868-1890 either marked with Japanese characters or unmarked

1891-1921 Nippon, Made in Nippon

1921-1940 Made in Japan or Japan

1941-1945 WW II few, if any exports

1945-1952 Made in Occupied Japan

1953~ Japan, Made in Japan

Dai Nippon (大日本) "Great Japan" on many later Meiji, Taisho and even some Showa era exports. 

Type of ceramics 

上野焼 Agano Yaki

赤膚焼 Akahada Yaki

天草焼Amakusa Yaki

朝日焼 Asahi Yaki

有田焼 Arita Yaki

備前焼 Bizen Yaki

萩焼 Hagi Yaki

波佐見焼 Hasami Yaki

平戸焼 Hirado Yaki 

一ノ瀬焼 Ichinose Yaki

伊賀焼 Iga Yaki

伊万里焼 Imari Yaki

犬山焼 Inuyama Yaki

出石焼 Izushi Yaki

 唐津焼 Karatsu Yaki

笠間焼 Kasama Yaki

清水焼 Kiyomizu Yaki

高田焼 Koda Yaki 

小石原焼 Koishiwara Yaki

古曽部焼 Kosobe Yaki

九谷焼 Kutani Yaki

京焼 Kyo-Yaki

益子焼 Mashiko Yaki

松代焼 Matsushiro Yaki

美濃焼 Mino Yaki 

大堀相馬焼 Obori Soma Yaki

小鹿田焼 Onta Yaki

楽焼 Raku Yaki

薩摩焼 Satsuma Yaki

瀬戸焼 Seto Yaki

渋草焼 Shibakusa Yaki

信楽焼 Shigaraki Yaki

小代焼 Shodai Yaki

高取焼 Takatori Yaki

丹波焼 Tanba Yaki

砥部焼 Tobe Yaki

Chinese Markings on Japanese Ceramics

                  成化年製 Sei Ka Nen Sei

                  大明年製 Dai Min Nen Sei

                  太明年製 Tai Min Nen Sei

                  太明成化年製 Tai Min Sei Ka Nen Sei

                  大明萬暦年製 Dai Min Ban Reki Nen Sei

                  奇玉宝鼎之珍  Ki Gyoku Hou Tei No Chin

                   冨貴長春 Fu Ki Cho Shun

                   竒石寳鼎之珍 Ki Seki Ho Tei No Chin

                   太明清化年製 Tai Min Seika Nen Sei this may be an early “typo” for 太and 清

Helpful Search Phrases

アンティーク和食器 Antique Japanese dishes

陶器   Pottery

陶磁器 Porcelain

輸出陶器 Export Pottery 

明治輸出陶 Meiji Export Pottery

昭和レトロ Showa Retro

染付けSometsuke (blue and white)

金襴手 Kinrante  (Kin ran te)

カップ&ソーサー cup and saucer

蓋付き茶碗 Futatsuki Chawan or lidded bowl

窯 Kiln (reading can be kama, gama, yo)

窯印 Kamajirushi-kiln mark

瑠璃釉金彩 Azure blue glaze with gold

(墨弾) Sumihajiki is a resist method used to on ceramics to leave white areas when painted or glazed.

焼き締めYakishime is high-fired unglazed stoneware. 

陶芸家Tougeika  potter

市松模様　Ichimatsu Moyō/checkerboard motif

Made/produced/manufactured:

作 saku

造 Zo

製 Sei

INUYAMA YAKI- Ceramics of Aichi Prefecture

Inuyama Yaki translates to "Dog Mountain" fired. Inuyama ceramics are made in north western Aichi Prefecture, just north of Nagoya. It has a long tradition for ceramics dating from the early Edo period.

Helpful links:

http://www.inuyamayaki.com

Luster Ware

Luster ware developed after 1921. Noritake used it extensively, but many other manufacturers in Japan did as well. There are varying degrees of quality depending on who manufactured it.  Luster ware was also used in Europe, especially Bavarian and Czech are found.

                                 Morimura green mark (Noritake)

The mark is unknown but this was made in Gifu Prefecture.

This divided luster ware plate is by Tashiro Shoten

Making Marriages With Orphaned Ceramics

Oops! Sometimes a piece of chinaware breaks, or we see sometimes orphaned pieces at a thrift store. It is possible to make things "work" using similar patterns, shapes, styles, eras and such. It really can be a bit of a game. I will be posting some "marriages" that bring these orphans together so they can still be useful.

I found the cup in Japan and this saucer at a thrift store  in the USA. The saucers is Regal China, made in Occupied Japan. The cup is marked Matsuhara, which I have not really been able to find out anything about. The styles fit although they are over a decade or so apart. The colors are not perfect but they seem happy together. 

I found these two orphans at different times at my favorite thrift/charity shop. 

The era, scale, style and pattern are similar enough that they make a pleasing marriage. 

SUMIDA YAKI aka SUMIDA GAWA WARE (隅田焼)

Sumida Yaki is famous for its bright, humorous and sometimes odd motifs. It is called Sumida Gawa Yaki by many because the workshops were by the Sumida River in Tokyo. In Japanese it is just called Sumida Yaki. I recommend the book  “Sumida—-according to us” by Herbert Karp and Gardner Pond, for more in depth information on Sumida Yaki. They include the the issue of those that mimic Sumida, sometimes erroneously called Poo ware by some antique dealers (pg 17). 

Probably the most prolific and famous potter in Inoue Ryousai. He worked closely with other noted artists including Ishiguro Koko.

This mark is that of Ishiguro Koko (石黒香香) who used bone script 香二 for his mark. The 二 is the iteration mark used in old Chinese (for repeating a character). Ishiguro Koko's name is written three ways that I know of.

(石黒) 香香 , (石黒) 香二, (石黒)香々

Hara Gozan

Inoue Ryosai

 

Ceramics with patent numbers assists with dating

In Carole Bess White's series of books on Made in Japan Ceramics she has a page with patent numbers. It is very helpful in establishing approximate years. I will show some examples with approximate years by using the list from the MIJ books. 

This Kutani sake flask with the number 372399 fits into the 1967-1967 time frame

TOUSEI TOUKI (統制陶器)-Ceramics made during WWII (domestic)

During WWII there were no exports from Japan. Most production was focused on the war effort. However, domestic ceramic wares were produced during 1941-1946 (Showa 15-21).  They were made in various areas under government control. They are usually marked with the the first kanji character for the area where they were produced and a number. I believe the numbers indicate the kiln.

For example the area of manufacture is the mark along with a number:

Arita made 有55 

Banko made 万 120

Bizen made 備 3

Gifu (Mino) made 岐 123

Hasami made 波 32

Hizen made 肥 28

Kyoto made 京 252

Nagoya made 名 24

Seto made 品 148

Seto made 瀬 202

Seto made セ 598

Shigaraki made 信 240

Tokoname made 常 107

Here is a great Japanese site which has many examples. The examples I used above were translated from this site so that you can maneuver your way around the site to see the various examples shown there.

http://touseizufu.exblog.jp/page/2/

Here is another link which shows that the snake eye foot was still being made during the World War II  period. I had previously thought the snake eye was only made through Meiji or early Taisho period.

http://touhen03.exblog.jp/iv/detail/?s=3585267&i=200606%2F07%2F85%2Fe0060485_9285078.jpg

Some examples of Tousei Touki marks:

To the left is the Aoki mark with 有55 meaning made by Aoki in Arita during the war

The two on the right are the Gifu mark 岐.

 A personal “te-hibachi” hand warmer, marked with the Hi 肥 for Hizen. This is Shida Yaki of Shiota, Saga Prefecture. 

Hizen 52

        Small plate with Gifu mark 917

This is a mark on a military cup found at fb group Collecting Japanese Ceramics and Arts

This is unusual in that it does not have a number. It is marked right to left Meito 明陶 with the Gifu mark above. This has the Gifu mark.

*I have seen a Gifu 161 with Yamaka Toki Kaisha

Examples of Tousei Toki from various sites

Flimart:

Gifu 396

Gifu 959

Gifu 964

Gifu 94

Seto made 180

Seto made 332

Rakuten:

Seto made 66

This mark indicates Seto Shinano area

Nearing the end of WWII, when metals were getting scarce, the Japanese Imperial Army resorted to using ceramic grenades. Pottery production was slowed during the war, only producing products under government control. They were recruited for the war effort to produce ceramic grenades. 

IZUMO JAKUZAN AKA WAKAYAMA WARE 出雲若山

The top mark reads Izumo. The bottom is the "Dai" in a circle mark. Both marks are usually found on these wares. Sometimes joint mark with Izumo Jakuzan (出雲若山) is found. Originally the reading was Izumo Wakayama, but it has been confirmed by Anri Sasaki,  a Japanese curator at the Tezen Museum in Shimane, that the reading is Jakuzan.  It appears that people confused the Izumo Wakayama pottery with Wakayama,  the prefecture. The kanji characters are different but the sound is the same. Because of this confusion they  changed the name using another reading of the same kanji characters. I believe this change may has happened around the turn of the 20th century. Thanks to my friend Alice Gordenker for verifying this information.

Reference works of the time Morse and Brinkley conflict. Morse used Wakayama and Brinkley used Jyakuzan. Morse published his work in 1880, while Brinkley published in 1901. This is how I surmised that the change must have occurred around the  late 19th or early 20th century. 

http://matsue-ehagaki.com/08/0817.html

https://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/toujikihanausagi/37809728.html?__ysp=6Zm25ZmoIOWHuumbsueEvCAg6Iul5bGx

SHUSSAI-GAMA of Shimane Prefecture

Shussai kiln (出西窯) of Shimane Prefecture, was established in 1947 by a group of young potters who were influenced by the "Mingei" folk pottery movement. The potters received instructional visits from esteemed Mingei potters like  Leach, Hamada, Kawai and Yanagi.