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Hi all, I would like to ask your help with the signature of this plate. The style reminds me of Hichozan or Zoshuntei, from the mid 19th century, am I right? The Border has some relief and there is one spur mark in the center of the back side. I could not find the signature on the Internet, so could you please help me identifying it? (I hope I do not show it upside-down!) Thanks a lot again! Mat

When flipped 180 degrees, the mark reads down from the right in two stacks as 'Hizen, Arita, Yamaka Tsukuru' (Made by Yamaka at Arita [in the former] Hizen Prefecture).

Yamaka citations in the 1882 book 'Japanese Marks and Seals' by James Lord Bowes state the marks were on what then were modern porcelains.

Citations of the Hichozan and Zoshuntei studios precede those of Yamaka in the same book and indicate the three were contemporaries. Both of the former were known to be located at Mikawachi, site of the famed Hirado kilns and their excellent source of kaolin.

It seems from the book that Yamaka was located at Arita proper, so may not have painted dishes of the same quality as those made at Mikawachi. Perhaps Emiko or another advanced collector can shed some light on this point.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Thank you Bill for helping me with the mark, and sorry for showing it upside-down! I am unfortunately not at all familiar with japanese script. I now found a digitalized book of Audsley and Bowes, Keramic Arts of Japan, 1881, where a yamaka mark is shown and described as "modern". In the Text is specified that "modern" means 1850-1870. Does the mentioning of Hizen generally indicate a pre 1868 date, or was it used also later on on Arita porcelain? Regards, Mat

Being primarily into Chinese porcelain, I'm unsure of precisely when Hizen lost its pre-Meiji identity, only that (according to wikipedia.org) the consolidation that turned it mostly into Saga prefecture was completed in 1888. However, I don't think it took that long for the advent of ceramic marks beginning with a rubric mentioning Meiji rule.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Hi all,

The style is rather comparable with the (most known) style of Zoshuntei and also Hichozan. To compare I post a picture of a 46cm vase of Zoshuntei. Look at the zipper motif which was populair around mid 19th. century, the typical colors and the use of panels. Most can be dated between 1840 and 1870.
To show that they also made other and maybe more refined ware I show a picture of an Hirado eggshell covered cup and saucer (geee ... I broke the lid, still feel stupid) which is marked Zoshuntei Sanpo Zo.
Last picture shows a dish with a less known style of Hichozan.

Regards,

Arjan

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