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Hi everyone,
I was wondering if anyone could help with the age of this vase and translating the signature on the base. It is 6" tall and shows some kiln grit on the base.

-Dave

It's difficult to say whether your bag-form vase is Japanese or Chinese, but I'm inclined to say the latter, based on the motif of irises and the off-center mark on the base. It looks fairly new to me and possibly to be a home or school kiln project, judging by its style of casual-looking potting.

I Googled the characters and got some hits on the Japanese name Ishimitsu, though I could not confirm a pottery connection. If I'm wrong about it being Japanese, then the two characters could form a Chinese name, Shi Guang, with Shi being the surname. Again no clear connection to ceramics.

Good luck,

Bill H.

I should quit the decaf for industrial-strength coffee! I meant of course 'inclined to say the former' not 'latter' in the first sentence of my initial comment. Bill H.

Agree with Bill (he meant 'former' not 'latter'), is Japanese.

It was inspired by 'picture shino' ware but both underglaze-blue decoration and glaze itself are not the same as the old ones highly prized by tea masters.

Do internet search for book _Classic stoneware of Japan: Shino and Oribe_ on googlebooks, you can get an idea.

Are also a few other books in Japanese and/or English about old Shino wares.

I think your piece is quite recent studio pottery, not meant to be "reproduction" but meant to show the potter's familiarity with the old Shino ware tradition.

It was possibly meant to be a wine bottle, but might have served as a vase for entryway display in tea-serving setting for someone not able to have something ~really~ special in that place. But in the right hands it could serve as counterpoint; perhaps the owner might have actual old Shino or Oribe tea bowl. There was a lot of intellectual subtlety and what Westerners view as playfulness in the tea ceremony. Still is among a relative few.

Good luck,
Cal

Bill and Cal,
I appreciate your great information. I'll follow up and do a bit more research on that book you mentioned. Thanks again.

-Dave

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