Japanese Porcelain marks
Japanese porcelain marks and backstamps are different from the Chinese. The old Japanese ceramic industry was with few exceptions a mere fraction of the Chinese. The production from design to sale was organized in a much smaller scale. Where the Chinese differentiated and made "everything", the Japanese specialized and made maybe only, teacups. Where the Chinese invented assembly line mass production, the Japanese had 'master potters', changing his signature as he went. Thus, we find a totally different philosophy behind the marks on the Japanese porcelain. They are more numerous, they can indicate the name of the factory, the potter, the decorator, the pattern, the customer, the exporter, the importer or maybe just say "Made in Japan", "Japan", "Nippon", "Happiness" or "Good luck" in any number of ways. Increasing the confusion are the hundreds of porcelain decorating firms active in the early to mid 20th century simultaneously putting many different marks on the same wares seemingly at random but probably for some reason. To take just one example, the Noritake company which has been active for about one hundred years only, are thought to have used over 400 different marks. That is four different marks per year, for a century.
To immediately gain a better understanding on the many names that occurs in Japanese pottery and porcelain I believe the map available here that indicates the most common kiln areas (blue names) and cities (names in red) is a great help.
Regarding dates, the following period names are the ones most commonly met with: The period 1603-1867 (commonly referred to as the Edo period) is roughly split into early, middle or late Edo. Sometimes the Genroku era (1688-1703) are distinguished. The Edo period are followed by Meiji (1868-1912), Taisho (1913-1926), Showa (1926-1988) where "early Showa" is often used to cover the Showa reign before 1945, and Heisei (1988-today).
The method used is empirical and that of the arts historian. Comparison with documents, files and archaeological data has been made when possible.
The marks are normally read from top to bottom, and right to left. Signatures are usually followed by a suffix, for example Sei, tsukuru or saku all meaning "made", or Ga, Dzu or Fude meaning "painted" or "drawn". Then there are place names, Satsuma, Kutani, Seto etc. To read these requires references such as a good Japanese/English dictionary such as Nelsons. One simple and easy guide to reading & writing Japanese is Ed Florence Sakade & al. J Bowes, Japanese Marks & Seals is very helpful as is Koop & Inada, Japanese Names. It is a very unrewarding task to go through lists of marks and signatures as the below in the hope of finding the exact one to match yours, however a modest amount of study can produce a big difference. Beware though, it can become an obession.
"Some Suggestions for Souvenir Seekers" (Mid 1930s)
To further our understanding of 20th century porcelain marks Elyce Litts recently submitted some notes from a little booklet entitled "Some Suggestions for Souvenir Seekers" produced by the Japanese Government Railway. The booklet seems to date to the mid-late 1930s. In addition to descriptions and photo examples of numerous types of pottery and porcelain including where they are made, it has a list of Souvenir Dealers. They are in English without the Japanese equivalency because the book was aimed at English-speaking tourists, but I'll list them below in the hopes that perhaps some of them can be linked to known marks. They describe various pottery:
Satsuma porcelains - mainly produced in and around the city of Kagoshima in Kyushu. Wares of this type are finished in ivory lustre with fine crakles (sic). They have a picture of a number of artisans sitting at the traditional low Japanese tables hand painting vases.
Arita procelains - produced in the prefecture of Saga, also in Kyushu.
Kutani porcelains - produced in the prefecture of Ishikawa in the Hokuiku district of Honshu (Japanese main island) On the whole Kutani porcelains are characterized by their elaborate picture decorations in thick gold, red, blue and some other colours.
Kyoto wares Rakuyaki of Kyoto has been closely connected with tea ceremonies since olden days. Porcelain wares well-known as Awata-yaki and Kiyomizu-yaki are among the souvenirs of Kyoto.
Seto ware. The province of Owari with Nagoya as its commercial and indisutrial metropolis is the greatest ceramic centre [of Japan] so far as the amount of products ... Owari produces so many varieties of porcelain and stoneware that the Japanese familiarly speak of porcelain and pottery in general as "setomono" after the village of the same name in this province.
Bizen ware (Okayama Preferecture) characterized by their peculiarly humorous figures of gods, birds and beasts
Banko wares (Mie Prefecture) which are mostly unglazed
Awaji wares (Awaji island) monochromatic with a bright yellow or green glaze
Soma pottery (Fukushima Prefecture) on which a picture of a horse is usually seen.
Souvenir Dealers:
TOKYO:
Department Stores: Mitsukoshi; Matsuya; Matsuzakaya; Takashimaya; Shirokiya and Imperial Hotel Arcade.
Porcelains: Fukagawa Porcelain Manufacturing Co.; Koran & Co.
YOKOHAMA: Department Stores: Nozawa-ya; Matsu-ya;Echizen-ya;Sagami-ya
Porcelains: Tashiro Shoten; Nikko Shoten; Nakanoya; Glory Shokai; S. Oda; Miyakawa; R. Inone
Curios: Owariya; K. Takahashi; Kaneko; S. Shibata
KYOTO:
Department Stores: Marumono; Takashimaya; Daimaru
Porcelains: Kinkozan, Hiraoka, Kyoto Porcelains
OSAKA:
Department Stores: Mitsukoshi; Daimaru; Hankyii; Nankai-Takashimaya; Matsuzakaya; Sogo; Takashimay; Izutsuya; Mikasaya.
KOBE:
Curios: T. Shibata; Harishin; K. Nikko; K. Yoshida & Co.
Department Stores: Daimaru; Mitsukoshi; Sogo
Porcelain & Laquer: Chujyo Shoten; Harishin; Koshiishi Shoten; Miyazaki Shoten; K. Nikko; Ogurusu & Co.; Suzuki & Co.; Taniguchi & Co.; William Rae; Gengan Yamamoto; Yamato Bros. & Co.; K. Yoshida & co.
The booklet gives the street addresses of all shops as well. Hopefully this contribution by Elyce Litts will greatly help our understanding of 20th century Japanese porcelain marks.
Unfortunately I have no further information on the marks published here, or of similar marks but not published here, than what is already here to read. For further discussions on antique Chinese and Japanese Ceramic Art you are most welcome to sign up with the Gotheborg Discussion Board .
If you would like my personal help or opinion on something there is a possibility to email me a question and help support the site at the same time. Click here to ask a question.
Jan-Erik Nilsson
gotheborg.com
| A A VANTINE & COMPANY |
|
Around the 1840's Ashley A. Vantine started a provision and supply business in San Francisco. He continued in California until 1869, when he came to New-York and established himself in the Oriental goods business, opening his first shop for oriental wares in New York in 1869 on Broadway, near Eighth-street. A few years later he moved to 831 Broadway, and from there, in 1883, to 879 Broadway. Mr. Vantine traveled a great deal, particularly to China and Japan, crossing the Pacific sixteen times and made six visits to Turkey and Southern Russia. The company seems to have began their business in Yokohama, Japan, already in 1865 for the purpose of manufacturing wares for export to the West. They even started a mail order business and came to have their own factories in Yokohama and Nagoya, Japan. A catalogue from 1917 is preserved at the University of Delaware Library. The text states that the book "enables you to rest comfortably at home in your easy chair, and, at your leisure, select by mail, with absolute confidence, from the largest collection of Oriental goods in America." Offerings include not only toys, but clothing, perfumes, jewelry, and pottery. The business seems to have shut down around 1951.
Mail order catalogue 1917. Vantine's, the Oriental Store. New York
Ashley Abraham Van Tine 1821-1890, Geneaology home page (outside link)
A little journey to Vantine's by Elbert Hubbard (Author), The Roycrofters (1912)
|
|
895. Mark: Crossed Imperial Chinese and Japanese flags with the Turkish crescent moon and star in-betwen, refering to Mr AA Vantines business relations with these three countries. Tentative date: c. 1910-20's.
Click here to see large picture
|
|
771. Mark: Crossed Imperial Chinese and Japanese flags with the Turkish crescent moon and star in-betwen, refering to Mr AA Vantines business relations with these three countries. Tentative date 1930-40s.
Click here to see large picture
|
|
772. Mark: Crossed Imperial Chinese and Japanese flags with the Turkish crescent moon and star in-betwen, refering to Mr AA Vantines business relations with these three countries.
Click here to see large picture
|
|
789. Mark: Crossed Imperial Chinese and Japanese flags with the Turkish crescent moon and star in-betwen, refering to Mr AA Vantines business relations with these three countries. From the look of the porcelain designs I would suggested the 1920-30's for this piece.
Click here to see large picture
|
| AEROZON |
|
Aerozon is a trade mark made up from 'air' and 'ozone'. I occurs on German smoking acessories, air cleaners as in perfume burners, nightlamps etc. for which many porcelain bodies were made, some of them in Japan. The mark occurs between 1910-1933 by AEROZON-Fabrik, Georg und Berthold Sternberg, Berlin. In 1933 AEROZON-Fabrik Schwarz & Co, Berlin, seems to have been owner for a few months, the extent of involvment has so far not been possible to determine precisely. From 1933-1940, owned by August Brünell. From 1940 the company is used by Hermann Feese, and later his son Artur Freese until today. The company's name today is Feese Dekorative Leuchten. A catalog from 1954-63 occurs with 'Aerozone' products from Metallwarenfabrik Hermann Feese also in Berlin. All according to a German collector's web page. (Information updated by, Simone Loebsin, 2008.)
|
 |
37. "ORIGINAL AEROZON", The 2 characters are read from top to bottom NICHI and HON, which read together as Nippon (= Japan). Date after 1940, tentativly around 1958/1959 - 1962/1963. |
 |
55. "ORIGINAL AEROZON", The 2 characters are read from top to bottom NICHI and HON, which read together as Nippon (= Japan). Date after 1940. |
ARITA
CLICK HERE FOR A MAP >>
|
|
Porcelain was produced in Arita for the first time in 1616 under the control by the feudal lord of Nabeshima, or the present Saga Prefecture. Arita ware is also called Imari ware because the products of the Arita kiln were mainly shipped from a nearby port of Imari. Arita porcelains of the early days were typically made in the Chinese style of the period, with deep-blue patterns on a white background, called sometsuke = "blue-and-white". In the 1640s, a new style called aka-e" was invented, characterized by bright colors and bold patterns principally in red. These two styles, "sometsuke" and "aka-e," dominate Japanese "Arita/Imari" wares. The products of the 17th and 18th centuries are typically called "Ko-imari" (old Imari) and "Ko-sometsuke" (old blue-and-white).
|
|
880. Arita porcelain food (rice) bowl with Japanese 'Imari' decoration. Mark: Fuki Choshun, four Kanji characters that stands for Wealth, Nobility, Longevity and Youth, often used during the Edo period (1603-1867) on Arita Imari. Meaning: good fortune and long life'. Very common on Imari dishes. Tentative date: 1820-50.
Click here to see large picture
|
|
883. Japanese porcelain with Nabeshima looking enamel decoration. Mark: Fuki Choshun, four Kanji characters that stands for Wealth, Nobility, Longevity and Youth, often used during the Edo period (1603-1867) on Arita Imari. Meaning: good fortune and long life'. Very common on Imari dishes. Date: this dish probably Meiji (1868-1912) period.
Click here to see large picture
|
|
884. Japanese porcelain with Japanese 'Imari' decoration. Mark: Fuki Choshun, four Kanji characters that stands for Wealth, Nobility, Longevity and Youth, often used during the Edo period (1603-1867) on Arita Imari. Meaning: good fortune and long life'. Very common on Imari dishes. Date: this dish probably Meiji (1868-1912) period.
Click here to see large picture
|
|
903. Japanese porcelain with Japanese 'Imari' decoration. Mark: Fuki Choshun, four Kanji characters that stands for Wealth, Nobility, Longevity and Youth, often used during the Edo period (1603-1867) on Arita Imari. Meaning: good fortune and long life'. Very common on Imari dishes. Date: this dish probably Meiji (1868-1912) period.
Click here to see large picture
|
|
795. Mark: "Zoshuntei Sanpo (or Sampo) Zu. Good quality, mid 19th century, Japanese 'Imari' decorated exportware. This was an Imari company name or trademark used from about 1840 to 1870.
Click here to see large picture
|
|
872. Mark: "Zoshuntei Sanpo (or Sampo) Zu. Meaning: Made by Zoshuntei Sanpo, whose real name was Tsunemasa Yojiro Hisatomi. This is a company name, or trademark, used from about 1840 to 1870. He was one of the first potters in the Arita area who was granted an export permit by the Lord of the Arita han (province), in 1841. This was also the first time it was allowed to put a signature on pieces exported from Arita except Fuku (Happiness), or copies of Chinese reign marks. Good quality, mid 19th century, Japanese 'Imari' decorated exportware. Date: 1845-65.
|
|
912. Mark: Saishintei Keiko (Woman's name), however J Bowes in Japanese marks &
seals reproduces the same mark which he gives as 'Saishintei Sisi' (male name). Japanese porcelain, probably Arita. Early 20th century.
Click here to see large picture
|
|
500. Mark: Kozen? Arita Yamaki zo
Click here to see large picture
|
|
59: The two red characters are: Bi jutsu = "beautiful artwork" which are probably a brand name or product line. The three black vertical characters read "IMARI". Imari porcelain. Modern mark, 1990-2000 |
|
608: The two red characters are: Bi jutsu = "beautiful artwork" which are probably a brand name or product line. The three blue vertical characters read "IMARI". Imari porcelain. Modern mark, 1990-2000 |
|
679. Japanese "Imari" decoration. Modern mark, late 20th century.
|
|
482. Japanese "Imari" decoration. Modern mark, late 20th century.
Click here to see large picture
|
|
584. Fuku - "Happiness". Arita, Imari porcelain. Meiji period, around 1880 - 1900.
Click here to see large picture
|
|
129. Seal reading Arita-yaki - , the left being a single character, early to mid 20th century.
|
|
743. "Arita" Modern mark, Late 20th century.
Click here to see large picture
|
| Arnart Imports Inc. |
| Arnart Imports Inc. is still in operation and is currently located in 230 Fifth Avenue, New York. The company specializes in
Porcelain gifts and decorative accessories. First registrated trade mark is the Crown and A's mark registred April 30, 1953. A mark looking like a bee hive, was first used the last of December 1957. Both were cancelled in 2001. |
|
952. Arnart Imports Inc., mark registred in 1957. Cancelled June 6th, 2001.
|
|
953. Arnart Imports Inc., Crown and A's mark in use since April 30, 1953. Cancelled February 17, 2001.
|
|
954. Arnart Imports Inc., Crown and A's mark in use since 1953 combined with the 'bee hive' in use since 1957, both cancelled in 2001.
|
|
955. Arnart Imports Inc., Royal Carlton, was registred for porcelain tableware, in 1957; Royal Crown was registred for use on animal and bird figures 1965 - 1987. Several similar 'Royal' marks with a crown and a brand mark exists, all from the second half of the 20th century.
|
| Bijutsu Toki |
 |
431. Mark: Bijutsu Toki. Second half of 20th cent./modern. Satsuma looking cracled glaze. |
| Dai Nippon (Great Japan) |
|
It is generally accepted that marks that includes "Dai Nippon" in Japanese characters on the whole date to the Meiji (1868-1912) period, reflecting the greatly increased nationalism of that period. However, in stamped versions it also occurred on mass produced export wares well into the 1930s.
|
|
1218. Mark: Dai Nippon. Plate in Satsuma style but on porcelain, from around 1935. The decoration is of Kannon with a rakan on each side of her. This type of wares made heavy use of moriage or raised enamels.
The mark on the back of the plate is a generic one meaning Dai Nippon or "Great Japan". These wares were mass produced for export during the Taisho (1913-1926) & early Showa (1926-1988) period. It is difficult to say exactly where in Japan it was produced
Click here to see large picture
|
|
1230. Mark: Dai Nippon. Plate in Satsuma style but on porcelain, best guess, late 1920s. The decoration is of Kannon with two rakans on each side of her. Displayed above the figures is the cross in circle mon of the Shimazu family crest. This type of wares made heavy use of moriage or raised enamels. The mark on the back of the plate is a generic one meaning Dai Nippon or "Great Japan". These wares were mass produced for export during the Taisho (1913-1926) & early Showa (1926-1988) period. It is difficult to say exactly where in Japan it was produced
Click here to see large picture
|
|
1039. Mark reads Dai Nippon Shimada Zo, and looks typical of those on 'Satsuma' but is in 'Kutani' style probably decorated in Yokohama. As for a date, in spite of the "Dai Nippon" mark that would indicate Meiji (1868-1912), this could be later though and the mark just carried over from Meiji to Taisho (1912-26). The porcelain is thus likely to be from the first decades of the 20h century.
Click here to see large picture
|
 |
1245. Mark: "Dai Nichi Hon" (Great Japan), mid 20th century. This marks however printed gives an example of marks that includes "Dai Nippon" in Japanese characters occurs well after the Meiji (1868-1912) period.
Click here to see large picture
|
|
599. Mark: Dai Nippon Ji mei or ni mei, Tsukuru - "Great Japan ... Made". It is generally accepted that marks that includes "Dai Nippon" in Japanese characters on the whole date to the Meiji (1868-1912) period, reflecting the greatly increased nationalism of that period. Mark from tea set which was bought probably in Czechoslovakia between 1915 and 1935, made from a fine, almost translucent porcelain. Date: Early 20th century.
Click here to see large picture
|
 |
694. Mark: Dai Nippon 'Choko sei' or 'Nagae sei' "S.N.", early 20th century.
Click here to see large picture
|
 |
701. Might read Dai Nippon Zao - "Great Japan Made". If so the "pon" character is very simplified in this particular case. It is generally accepted that marks that includes "Dai Nippon" in Japanese characters on the whole date to the Meiji (1868-1912) period, reflecting the greatly increased nationalism of that period. Possibly Kutani, 1900-1920.
Click here to see large picture
|
| Cherry Blossom Marks |
|
In 1924 a mark know as the "Cherry Blossom", in the shape of five "M" was sub-contracted by the Nippon Toki Kasha Company (Noritake Company) to independent companies making porcelain for export the USA Market. I have here collected a number of these and similar marks with the likelyhood of a relatioin to the Noritake sales organisation, the US market and a possibly date to the mid 1920s. |
 |
1088. Mark: Mt. Fuji and the Japanese characters "Nichi Hon" (Nippon) = Japan, late first half of the 20th century.
Click here to see large picture
|
 |
1093. Pitcher. Mark: Cherry Blossom and within Japanese characters beginning with "Naka" and second character is "Cho" or "To". It was produced for export, not in Japanese taste and is of lesser quality. Tentative dated first decades of the 20th century.
Click here to see large picture
|
|
104. Mark: Cherry Blossom in the shape of five "M". Mark sub-contracted to independent companies making porcelain for the USA Market, by the Nippon Toki Kasha Company (Noritake Company). Date: c 1924.
|
|
626. Nippon/Noritake. The "T N" could be "Tame &
Nakamura" of "Moriyama style". "Flower" mark in shape of five "M". Early 20th century |
 |
722. "Souvenir - Japan", "Flower" mark in shape of five "M". Early 20th century.
Click here to see large picture
|
|
527. Might be of the Hotta Yu Shoten & Co. The use of the word "Shoten" indicates the name for a shop which is selling products from its own kiln. In either case they seems to have went out of business in 1947. This mark likely to be from the 1920-30's.
Click here to see large picture
|
|
824. Literally hundreds of companys produced dinnerware with European or Western style designs. It is not a Noritake mark, but is similar in design to those made during that period. Many of these companies were in business for very short periods of time. Style suggests a post WWII date, possible 1960s.
Click here to see large picture
|
|
1038. Literally hundreds of companys produced dinnerware with European or Western style designs. It is not a Noritake mark, but is similar in design to those made during that period. Many of these companies were in business for very short periods of time. Style suggests a post WWII date, possible 1960s.
|
| Chikaramachi branch factory of Noritake |
| Chikaramachi, Made In Japan. In use on porcelain made at the Noritake factory, Chikaramachi branch, during 1928-1946. Mark occurs in black and red. Porcelain intended for the United Kingdom market uses "Foreign" instead of Made in Japan. Same factory also used a mark with a crown inside a wreath. After the Noritake Morimura Gumi period that ended 1946, the factory changed name to Hinode Shokai. |
|
928. Mark: chi kara machi. Lusterware (or lustreware) type porcelain. Date: Mid 20th century
Click here to see large picture
|
| Eisho |
 |
41. Mark: Eisho. |
| FINE CHINA OF JAPAN |
 |
804. Japanese porcelain, "Fine China Japan, "Golden Rose" (pattern), "MSI". Retro style decoration, later part of 20th century. 'Fine China' seems to be used consistently as a brand name under which several patterns are/were sold such as Golden Rose, Platinum Rose, Golden Wheat, Platinum Wheat, Cherry Blossom, English Garden, and St. Regis. The M$ might indicate that the set was marketed under the name of 'Signature Series'
|
 |
805. Japanese porcelain, "Fine China Japan, "Platinum Wheat" (pattern), "MSI". Retro style decoration, later part of 20th century. 'Fine China' seems to be used consistently as a brand name under which several patterns are/were sold such as Golden Rose, Platinum Rose, Golden Wheat and Platinum Wheat. The M$ might indicate that the set was marketed under the name of 'Signature Series'
|
 |
807. Japanese porcelain, "Fine China, Japan, "1221", "English Garden" (pattern), Retro style decoration, later part of 20th century, tentatively 1970's. |
 |
806. Japanese porcelain, "Fine Porcelain China, Japan, "W", "Diane" (pattern), Retro style decoration, later part of 20th century, tentatively 1970's. |
| G |
 |
793. Mark: "G" in a wreath. This marks also occur with the addition of "Occupied Japan", while we can assume this mark dates to the early 1950's.
Click here to see large picture
|
| Giokusei, Seto/Nagoya |
|
886. Japanese porcelain. Mark: Giokusei. Mid Japan Seto/Nagoya/Kutani area, possible Nagoya ware. Regarding the
the first character, this can be Gioku or tama, and the second as Sei-, Sho-I or -noi.
A normal Satsuma reading would be Giokusei, as a town, Tama-noi, as an actors name Tama-i. Date: early 20th century.
Click here to see large picture
|
| GOLD IMARI |
| The Word Mark 'GOLD IMARI HAND PAINTED' was first used in the US on Japanese poircelain the 1st of december 1959. The applicant was Arita Bussan Co., Ltd. Corp. Japan No. 8, 3-Chrome Iida-Machi, Higashi-Ku, Nahoya, Japan. The mark was abandoned October 29, 1984. |
 |
691. Mark: Gold Imari. Mid 20th century.
|
 |
1139. Mark: GOLD IMARI HAND PAINTED
|
| H.SAJI JAPAN, Seto, Dai Nippon |
|
938. Sugar bowl with celadon glaze and enamels. Mark: H.SAJI JAPAN Dai Nippon Sa Ji Sei = Great Japan, Saji Made. "Saji" seems to be a name, one possibility is that it is just referring to the Japanese name for Seji" = Celadon. Best guess from looking, is a Seto/Nagoya or perhaps Yokohama product. Regrding date, it is generally accepted that marks that includes "Dai Nippon" in Japanese characters on the whole date to the Meiji (1868-1912) period, reflecting the greatly increased nationalism of that period. In this case a likely period is 1910-30.
Click here to see large picture
|
| HIRADO |
| The Hirado kilns that produced almost all Hirado ware were located at Mikawachi, some 7km distant from Arita. |
|
899. Mark: Mikawachi Nagamoto-za, or Tsukuru.. Meaning: "Mikawachi Nagamoto made". Hirado eggshell porcelain dekorated in Kutani (red painted) aka-e style. Mikawachi is the location of production, Nagamoto is the probably independent decorator, rather than also being the maker of the porcelain, which is cheap and probably bought in for "value-adding" by decoration. Perhaps Nagamoto-san identified a market niche by decorating cheap Hirado table ware in Kutani aka-e style. The lidded bowls found in Holland. Date last decades of the 19th century.
Click here to see large picture
|
| Imura, Yokohama |
 |
421. Mark: Nippon Yokohama Imura tsukuru.
Mid to late 20th century |
| Izumi, Nippon |
 |
1. Mark: The kanji character inside the fan is Izumi. The 2 characters outside the fan are read from left to right as Hihon (Nippon) = Japan. Date: likely around 1900.
|
| JAPAN - MADE IN JAPAN |
| Marks on export porcelain: In 1891 the McKinley Tariff Act was instated, requiring items imported into the United States to be marked in English with the country of origin. The name "Nippon" was chosen for items coming from Japan. (Nippon is the Japanese name for Japan.) In 1921, the official country of origin name requirement was changed to "Japan", thus creating a defined time period 1891-1921 in which wares were marked Nippon. Previous to 1891, items were either not marked at all, or marked with Japanese characters. During the period 1921-1941 porcelain should be marked "Japan" and roughly after 1941, marked "Made in Japan", though numerous exceptions appears to occurs.
Pieces marked with JAPAN or MADE IN JAPAN in plain text without any company marks, in general date to the period immediately after the second WW. Some come with the addition of OCCUPIED JAPAN.
|
 |
721. "Made in Japan". Date 1940's-50's
Click here to see large picture
|
 |
725. "Made in Japan / Occupied". Date 1945-52.
Click here to see large picture
|
|
975. Mark: Symbol plus "Made in Japan", date: c. 1950.
Click here to see large picture
|
|
| 986. Mark: "Made in Japan", Japanese lustreware figure, probly c 1950.
|
 |
800. Unidentified mark on pottery planter, 1950's ?
Click here to see large picture
|
|
528.
|
| KB |
 |
941. Mark: "KB Japan", Date: probably c. 1950.
|
| Kawata sei, Dai Nippon, Yokohama |
 |
699. Mark: Dai Nippon Yokohama Kawata sei, Early 20th century. It is generally accepted that marks that includes "Dai Nippon" in Japanese characters on the whole date to the Meiji (1868-1912) period, reflecting the greatly increased nationalism of that period.
Click here to see large picture
|
| Kawato - Yokohama, Kutani influenced |
|---|
|
1282. Bowl. Mark: Nippon Yokohama, Kawato Zo, (decorated by Kawato), Kutani influence. Size: Diameter 6" / 15 cm across, height 3" / 7.5 cm. Date Taisho to early Showa.
Click here to see large picture
|
| Kissho - "Lucky omen" |
 |
27. The right hand character is Kichi, the left hand character is Sho. Read from right to left they read Kissho = Lucky omen. |
| Kitagawa Togei company (ARITA) |
|
Small family kiln in Arita. Established in 1951 by Kitagawa Ihei with his 5 sons, after having worked as a free lance since 1913. The kiln is still in business today.
|
|
558. Large dog figurine. |
| Kosan |
|
1083. The mark probably reads Ko san yo, meaning the Kosan kiln. Tentative date: Second half 20th century probably around the 1960-70s.
Click here to see large picture
|
| M and Wreath marks |
|
These marks might or might not have been manufactured by the Noritake company. More than 400 marks are suggested to have been used by Noritake alone. Most pieces marked Nippon also seems to have been manufactured by Noritake. For a limited list of known Noritake backstamps, see the separate Noritake section. |
|
22. Mark: M - ORIENT - CHINA |
| MARUKU CHINA |
|
11. MARUKU CHINA, Japan, Moriage dragonware typ of porcelain. Marks featuring a crown like this, on the whole seems to date to the period immediately after the second WW, i.e. late 1940's-early 1950's. |
| Matsukawa, Dai Nippon |
|
730. Mark: Dai Nippon Matsukawa. It is generally accepted that marks that includes "Dai Nippon" in Japanese characters on the whole date to the Meiji (1868-1912) period, reflecting the greatly increased nationalism of that period.
Click here to see large picture
|
| Nagoya Seito Sho - N&Co, Nagoya, Nippon - Narumi Seito Sho - Meito China |
|
In 1908 Nagoya Seito Sho Company was founded by Kotero Asukai, former employee of Noritake. Other Noritake artisans were soon to follow to teh new company why this porcelain might bear a close resemblance to Noritake porcelain. Their wares was also market Meito China. During the WWII the company was sold and the name changed to Narumi Seito Sho. The Meito China mark continued to be used after WWII with variations in the crown logo mark. Some porcelain with Meito China marks are found with the addition "Made in occupied Japan".
|
 |
684. N&Co Nagoya Nippon Porcelain. Purchased in the U.S. in the early 1920's
Click here to see large picture
|
| Nikko |
|
811. Japanese porcelain. Mark "Nikko". Most likely date is the 1950's. The porcelain is probably bought directly in Japan, since there are no western characters in the mark. The reading of this combination is nikko (sunlight/sunshine). Top character can be read as Nichi, or jitsu.
The bottom character can be read as Ko meaning light or shine. If read alone day or sun are the common meanings, combined it is Nikko. The style of pattern design is Satsuma influenced (probably from Kyoto, not Kyushu) based on the way the gilding is applied, the design of the rim, the color of the rim ground and from the way a Satsuma trained artists portrayed weeping wisteria (a favorite of Satsuma floral designs).
Click here to see large picture
|
| Neifu (Ch.) |
| The mark Neifu (Ch.) appears on Chinese porelcelain from the Kangxi period and onwards. This mark is a copy of Chinese Bleu de Hue (Glossary) porcelain for the Vietnamese market. |
|
1278. Dish. Mark: Neifu (Ch.). Japanese transfer printed copy of Chinese export porcelain intended fpor the Vietnamese market. Date 1935-45.
Click here to see large picture
|
| Nichi Hon (Nippon) |
|
7. Mark: "Nippon", meaning: Japan. |
|
12. Mark: "Nippon", meaning: Japan. |
|
13. Mark: "Nippon", meaning: Japan. |
|
42. Mark: "Nippon", meaning: Japan. |
|
71. Mark: The 2 characters are read from right to left. They are the characters NICHI and HON which together read as Nippon (=Japan). Mid 20th century |
|
24. The 2 characters above the Gothic "A" read from left to right, are NICHI and HON, which read together as Nippon (= Japan). A rough guess on a date would be late 19th century/early 20th century befor 1920's. |
|
905. The 2 characters above the "A(L)" read from left to right, are NICHI and HON, which read together as Nippon (= Japan). A rough guess on a date would be early 20th century, before 1920's.
Click here to see large picture
|
|
740. Nippon "Japan". Mid 20th century, 1930's (before WWII).
Click here to see large picture
|
|
876. Nippon "Japan". Mid 20th century, 1930's (before WWII).
Click here to see large picture
|
|
9. Unconfirmed identity but looks like Mount Fuji and a stream. The 2 characters below the picture are read together as Nippon (= Japan). Mark similar to those of Fukagawa. It is possible that this and similar clear red stamped or printed marks actually belongs to the occupied Japan period (1945-52). The red dot following the Japanese character is unexplained.
Click here to see large picture
Pictures curtesy of Prof. Dr. Karl Heinz Glätzer, Germany
|
|
19. Unconfirmed identity but looks like Mount Fuji and a stream. The 2 characters below the picture are read together as Nippon (= Japan), similar to Fukagawa. |
 |
680. Japanese export ware. Unconfirmed identity but looks like Mount Fuji and a stream, similar to Fukagawa. Thought to date to the 1920's or slightly thereafter.
Click here to see large picture
|
 |
246. Unconfirmed identity but looks like Mount Fuji and a stream, similar to Fukagawa.
Click here to see large picture
|
 |
723. Mark: Mt. Fuji, a stream, and "Made in Japan", c 1930. Unconfirmed identity but could be Yokoi Sei-Ichi Shoten which closed in 1942. Mark similar to Fukagawa.
Click here to see large picture
|
|
1091. Dragonware tea set. Mark: Nichi Hon (Nippon). Tentative date, c. 1950.
Click here to see large picture
|
| Okuyama |
 |
427. Mark: Okuyama. |
| Okura Art China |
|
Okura Art China was the forebear of the famed Morimura group of companies such as Noritake (Founded in 1904 as Nippon Toki Kaisha, Ltd. Now, Noritake Co.), TOTO (Toyo Toki Kaisha, Ltd. established in 1917 at Kokura to produce Earthenware, Chinaware and Sanitary ware. Now, Toto Ltd.), N.G.K. (Nippon Gaishi Kaisha established in Nagoya, 1919), and INAX.
Okura Art China was established in 1919 in the suburb of Kamata in Tokyo by Magobei Okura and his son Kazuchika who were both amongst the 6 founders of the Noritake company in 1904. Okura pieces were made by hand and were of choice material, targeting the top segment of the market. Marks include "OAC Noritake" and a 5 lobed trademark. Okura porcelain is still made today under the name of Okura China Ltd, with its headquarter in Totsuka, Yokohama.
|
| Rokuzo |
|
891. Mark: Rokuzo under a Japanese gate of honour. Japanese porcelain. Probably mid Japan 'Seto' area. Tentative date: 1920-40's.
Click here to see large picture
|
| S |
|---|
|
35. Mark: Above "Made in Japan" a capital "S" superimposed upon a system of four triangles within a fifth triangle. Stamped. |
| SPP |
|
606. Mark "SPP". Marks featuring a crown like this, on the whole seems to date to the period immediately after the second WW, i.e. late 1940's-early 1950's.
Click here to see large picture
|
| Sanko Toen |
|
156. Read in traditional manner: Sanko Toen, "sanko" = mountain-wide, and "toen" = pottery garden.
|
|
416. Read in traditional manner: Sanko Toen, "sanko" = mountain-wide, and "toen" = pottery garden.
|
| SETO |
|---|
|
Owari Province is modern Aichi Prefecture. Owari produces so many varieties of porcelain and stoneware that the Japanese speak of porcelain and pottery in general as "Setomono" after the village Seto, slightly north of Nagoya. Nagoya is the commercial and industrial metropolis of Owari, and the greatest ceramic centre in Japan so far as the amount of products counts. See page: Seto
|
| SHIBATA |
|
78. Shiba ta To-ki - "Shibata Porcelain", Late 20th century |
|
88. Shiba ta To-ki - "Shibata Porcelain", Late 20th century |
|
123. Shiba ta To-ki - "Shibata Porcelain", Late 20th century |
| Shuzan |
|---|
|
535. Mark: Shuzan. Fukiyaki?
|
| Suzuki Co. |
 |
17. In the top line, the top right and top left characters are read together as "Nippon" (as in No.6 above). The centre top and centre bottom characters are the vertical characters in No.10, whilst the lower right and lower left characters may read from right to left as "SUZUKI". The two characters written vertically read Nippon Tokusei i.e. "Japan special make" or "Specially made in Japan".
Click here to see large picture
|
 |
423. Mark: Suzuki [two characters] below a cipher/mark of a company/establishment.
|
|
984. Mark is for Suzuki Company, a distributor which had pieces made with its mark for sale and distribution. Presumably mid-20th century.
Click here to see large picture
|
|
1133. Mark is for Suzuki Company, a distributor which had pieces made with its mark for sale and distribution. Presumably mid-20th century. This piece dates to around 1958.
Click here to see large picture
|
 
|
30. Mark: Dai Nippon Suzuki. The 3 rather shadowy characters within the square appear to be "Dai" + "Nichi" + "Hon" which would be read as "Dai Nippon" (= Great Japan). Under the square Suzuki Unconfirmed identity but looks like it could be Mount Fuji and a stream. Mark similar to Fukagawa.
|
|
936. Mark: Suzuki "Made in Japan", Date: early 20th century
Click here to see large picture
|
|
949. Mark: Suzuki, imported to France.
Click here to see large picture
|
|
73. Mark: "Nippon Suzuki Co. Patented" combined with a double "C". This mark is the import mark of Carl Claussen & Co. Berlin-Lankwitz, Germany, in short C. & Co.. The company was in operation from 1920-1974. This mark is likely to have come into use after 1945, when Carl Claussen returned home after WW II. After 1965 the company was run by his daughter. (Interview in May 2008, by Simone Loebsin.)
|
| T |
|
845. Mark: The letter "T" in a wreath, below it says Japan. Lusterware (or lustreware) developed by Noritake but the majority of lustreware pieces are made by other companies. One of them were the Takita company, whose mark was T&T in two rectangles. This could be a version of a Takita mark, or just a similar mark. Date: probably late 1920's to early 1930's.
Click here to see large picture
|
| TMK |
|
588. Mark: "TMK CHINA". Marked with "geisha girl" lithopahe which seems to date this dish to the late 1940's/early 1950's.
Click here to see large picture
|
| Takahashi company |
|
67. Seal reading Takahashi Shokai (shokai also means company). Late 20th century.
|
| Ucagco - United China and Glass Company |
| UCAGCO actually means United China and Glass Company. Its offices were based in New Orleans and New York. Ucagco was primarily a distributor of dinnerware and glassware. They were the distributor of many Japanese china patterns during the early 1950's. United China & Glass Co. Inc., better known as UCAGCO, dating back to 1850. Founded by Abe Mayer and originally called Abe Mayer & Co., the importer did business throughout the Southeast U.S. as well as Central and South America. It wasn't until the 30s that the company took on the official trademark of UCAGCO and began expanding overseas. In fact, after the war, the company's agent in Japan, S.A. Stolaroff signed the very first contract allowing imports from Japan. A talented ceramic designer himself, Stolaroff worked alongside many Japanese potteries to lead the company's line of ceramics. In 1956, UCAGCO was sold to Sammons Enterprises and in 1962, Stolaroff, who had become the company's president, retired. |
|
445. Ucagco company. They were very prolific during the Occupied Japan era, this mark is found on some of the better pieces. Most pieces marked this way dates from c. 1947 to 1961. Mid 20th cent. |
|
1072. Ucagco company "Occupied Japan". Date 1945-52. |
|
1202. Ucagco company mark under a crown mark. Tentaive date, c. 1950
Click here to see large picture
|
| Uchida |
 |
348. Mark: Uchida. |
 |
349. Appears to be Uchida.
|
| W |
| I have started to wonder if maybe all these "wreat"-marks maybe are Noritake porcelain in disguise. The W could be an up-side down M and so on. In 1941 the offices of the Morimura Brothers Export Co were closed and the "M" as in Morimura inside the wreat was changed to an N as in "Noritake", a name it would not officially have before 1981. Still the trade must have continued even under the OJ period. |
|
576. Mark: W in a wrerath.
|
| WH |
|
819. Mark: WH. Wishbone and Horseshoe mark. Japanese porcelain. Possible date 1950's.
|
This page originally came to be thanks to a donation of mark pictures from Karl-Hans Schneider, Euskirchen, Germany, in 1999, which gave me a modest but nonetheless beginning. Of the many later contributors I would especially want to mention Albert Becker, Somerset, UK, who were the first to help with some translations and comments. His work was than greatly extended by Ms. Gloria S. Garaventa after which Mr. John Avery looked into and corrected some of the dates. Most of the Satsuma marks were originally submitted by Ms. Michaela Russell, Brisbane, Australia. A section which was then greatly extended by Ian & Mary Heriot of which a large amount of information still awaits publication. A warm thank you also goes to John R. Skeens, Florida, U.S.A. and Toru Yoshikawa for the Kitagawa Togei section and to Susan Eades for her help and encouragement towards the creation of the Moriyama section. For the last full overhaul of the Satsuma and Kutani sections, thank you to Howard Reed, Australia. The most recent larger contribution was made by Lisa M. Surowiec, New Jersey, USA. In 2004 my warm thank you goes to John Woucher and Howard Reed whose knowledge and interest has sparked a new life into this section and given reason for a new overhaul. Thank you all for your interest in and contributions to our knowledge of the 20th century porcelain.
All material submitted by visitors and published anywhere on this site are and remain the copyrighted property of the submitter and appears here by permission of the owner. All expressed opinions are my personal, based on photos and the owners submitted descriptions. They are not to be used for any financial or commercial decisions but for educational and personal interest only and can and will be changed here as further information merits. Web design and content of all pages as they appear on on gotheborg.com © Jan-Erik Nilsson, 1993-2008.
Japanese porcelain marks and backstamps are different from the Chinese. The old Japanese ceramic industry was with few exceptions a mere fraction of the Chinese. The production from design to sale was organized in a much smaller scale. Where the Chinese differentiated and made "everything", the Japanese specialized and made maybe only, teacups. Where the Chinese invented assembly line mass production, the Japanese had 'master potters', changing his signature as he went. Thus, we find a totally different philosophy behind the marks on the Japanese porcelain. They are more numerous, they can indicate the name of the factory, the potter, the decorator, the pattern, the customer, the exporter, the importer or maybe just say "Made in Japan", "Japan", "Nippon", "Happiness" or "Good luck" in any number of ways. Increasing the confusion are the hundreds of porcelain decorating firms active in the early to mid 20th century simultaneously putting many different marks on the same wares seemingly at random but probably for some reason. To take just one example, the Noritake company which has been active for about one hundred years only, are thought to have used over 400 different marks. That is four different marks per year, for a century.
Mail order catalogue 1917. Vantine's, the Oriental Store. New York
Click here to see large picture
Click here to see large picture
Click here to see large picture
Click here to see large picture
Click here to see large picture
Click here to see large picture
Click here to see large picture
Click here to see large picture
Click here to see large picture
Click here to see large picture
Click here to see large picture
Click here to see large picture
Click here to see large picture
Click here to see large picture
Click here to see large picture
Click here to see large picture
Click here to see large picture
Click here to see large picture
Click here to see large picture
Click here to see large picture
Click here to see large picture
Click here to see large picture