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I purchased this wonderful Ginger Jar in the early 70's from a retired dentist in the US Navy. He was quite elderly so even if he bought it new, it could be fairly old now. I was young when I bought it so unfortunately I didn't ask enough questions.

Can anyone tell me what I have and what the mark on the bottom says?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

This jar appears to be a Japanese product, probably made circa the 1st quarter of the 20th century (late Meiji-Taisho period). It has above-average decoration in what is shown on the one side as a reserve containing pheasants (or phoenixes) amidst peonies and smaller blooms, all surrounded by a yellow ground with plum flowers, which latter motif is repeated atop the cover. The shoulder and side of the cover have bands of pomegranates (symbol of a happy marriage productive of heirs) and flowerheads on black grounds. The base features a diaper of lotus petal lappets (the lotus being a Buddhist symbol of rebirth).

The cursive mark on the base looks a great deal like it may be meant as the character for long life, though the dot that stands alone on its right side seems to be anomalous in that context. Maybe a native linguist can double-check my assumption.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Thanks Bill for your extensive research and explanation of my Ginger Jar. I don't have the knowledge of how to find such detailed information so I am very appreciative of your response.

If anyone can read Bill's last paragraph and comment on the mark, I would love to hear from you.

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