"SNAKE'S EYE" FOOT (蛇の目高台)

From the mid 1700's through the Meiji period plates, bowls and especially "soba choko" were made with the snake's eye foot known as "Jya no me Kodai" (蛇の目高台). Although this style of foot declined after the early 20th century, it was still used through the war to some extent. There are even some still made especially modern soba choko.

                         

Soba Choko from Meiji period

TRANSFER WARE or Inban (印判)

There are various forms of transfer ware. Stencils (katagami) were used from the Edo period. Copper plate (Doban) was begun 1887 in Hizen. There were other techniques used as well. Konnyaku inban gave a very soft blurry design. 

https://sites.google.com/site/bandwresearch/home/imbande/printing-technique

Transfer print types

1. Konnyaku Inban *used since the middle of the Edo period. (Stamp). **not common these days.

2. Dohantensha (etch) *used from Meiji period

3. Katagamisurie (stencil/pattern) *used from Mid Edo period. 

*screen print transfers are called screen insatsu スクリーン印刷.  

http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~hayakaen/SometukeKiji/kiji-inban/Kiji-inban1p.htm  

http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~hayakaen/SometukeKiji/kiji-inban/Kiji-inban2p.htm  

http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~hayakaen/SometukeKiji/kiji-inban/Kiji-inban3p.htm

                                   

These are small plates (11cm) called kozara (小皿) or mamezara (豆皿). These were made in abundance late Meiji and early Taisho eras. These are Seto yaki.

                                     

These are medium sized plates (11cm and 15.5cm) from the Meiji era. They are Seto yaki. They show obvious transfer flaws, which are quite common in this era.

Seto Yaki Phoenix design plate Dai Nippon

The mark is Sho 正 with a roof over it. 

                           Small plate (kozara) 

                                          Sake cups 

Early Meiji era katagamisurie

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.

.

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

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

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

Current design Koransha set of five dishes

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

2019 Visit to the Fukagawa Main Store in Arita

Hizen Arita Sarayama 

Tea Bowl Foot Styles

                          

   

Top left: Spiral Shell-Kaijiri Kodai, top right: Notched Foot-Wari Kodai, Bottom left: Helmut Foot-Tokin Kodai, Bottom right: Ring Foot-Wa Kodai

      Left is one style of Nail Carved Foot-Kugibori. On the right is Double Foot-Niju Kodai.

BIBI CHINA "ビビ"

                         

Bibi China has two main marks that I am aware of. 

                                                                 Hand Painted

                                                                      ビビ

                                                                    NIPPON

                                                                       and 

                                                              MADE IN JAPAN

                                                                       ビビ

The Nippon Mark would date sometime between 1891-1921. 

The Made in Japan Mark would be later.

Several sites indicate that BiBi ware was exported to Lebanon for sale in the Middle East through 1947. I have not verified this. 

SHIKAOI YAKI (鹿追焼)-Ceramics of Hokkaido

When I first came upon this three piece sake set my initial thought was "Oh! Bizen". I was surprised when I turned the tokkuri over to find another "Yaki" written there. After some research I discovered that it was made in Hokkaido. Hokkaido is not especially known for its ceramics but it seems that there is an up and coming ceramics scene up north. 

Modern Japanese Ceramics, Pathways of Innovation & Tradition by Anneliese Crueger gives a brief history of ceramics in Hokkaido. It appears that kilns blossomed during the 1960's -1980's. 

https://www.town.shikaoi.lg.jp/shisetsu/art/togei_kosaku/shikaoiyaki/

                       三上慶耀　Mikami Yoshiaki