Bakumatsu Blue

While researching ceramics of the Edo Bakumatsu period (roughly 1853-1867) I noticed a blue color combination (medium gray/blue with a darker, but not cobalt blue, often  with (墨弾) Sumihajiki, a resist method used to on ceramics to leave white areas when painted or glazed.  I will call this "Bakumatsu Blue". Not all ceramics made during the Bakumatsu period used this blue combo, but it was widespread.  Similar combinations were used much earlier in the Edo period with slight variations. 

Japanese Military and Memorial Sake Cups

This is certainly a work in progress. I will continue to add as I find examples.

SITES FOR RESEARCHING

https://militarysakecups.com/

https://www.militaryantiquesmuseum.com/js388-1930s-japanese-sake-cup.15048.archive.htm

https://www.facebook.com/militarysakecups/

http://www.stewartsmilitaryantiques.com/sake-cups.53.html

https://militarypackrat.com/t/wwii-japanese-sake-cups

Yamatoku with additional decorator marks

I am researching Yamatoku marked plates that include additional markings. It appears that Yamatoku produced blanks which were then decorated by others. I have found several marked by decorators.

Thanks to Maggie Xiao for permission to use her pictures 

Hizen Arita  decorated

The Yamatoku ヤマトク mark is off to the left side combined with the red Hizen/Arita mark

Tetsuka decorated

The Yamatoku ヤマトク mark is at the top with the red 

Tetsuka テツカ mark (up side down) on the bottom. 

Tetsuka or Tezuka is often found with the Yamatoku impressed mark

Here is an example of a Taisho era blue mark with Yamatoku impressed mark

http://www5e.biglobe.ne.jp/~urakudo/inban_MSW-0021.html

A Matsu mark with a roof meaning house of Matsu. The decorator?

 This mark is sometimes found on Yamatoku pieces.

Lefton China-imported from Japan

Lefton China was a US importer of Japanese china wares, figurines and novelties. Although the company was founded in 1941, it was after WWII that they imported wares. Some will have "Made in Occupied Japan" but most will just have some variation of Lefton China, Handpainted, Japan. The company was sold in 2000. 

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

Ohi Toshio

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

Made in Gifu Prefecture 1932~

https://sango-toki.co.jp/

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 (wealth, nobility, longevity and youth)

                   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

　Pottery Terms

Akae- Red picture or painting

Kohiki-

Tebineri - hand pinched or formed

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