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Subject:Re: Help identifying this mark please
Posted By: Martin Michels Thu, Nov 03, 2016
Hi,
The mark reads; Shunko Sei (see picture).
This is the mark of Shunko Kato 2nd, synonym for Harumitsu Kato, who established a pottery in Seto, Aichi Prefecture, around 1875. He started to export Seto ware about 1881-1882. Kato is the family name, Shunko or Harumitsu is the given name.
Later his wares began to be sold by the Morimura Group, which ultimately established Noritake. Thus, his wares are so-called "pre-Nippon", early examples of Japanese ware for Western markets and are sometimes grouped with "Old Noritake", though actually pre-dating Noritake.
The mark reads Shunko Sei, not Harumitsu Sei, although those are the same characters. The Kato Shunko kiln from Seto supplyed Morimura-gumi(exporter) blank porcelains and also had its own, "Shunko" brand porcelain.
Regards,
Martin.
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