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