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what type, when was it made, and what does it say on the bottom-- I was told it can from the Jamestown Exposition of the early 1900's-- about 18" tall with top

It's Japanese Satsuma ware.... Late Meiji period I'd guess... This might be a starting point for you to do some more research on it anyway....

The form is a censer, and the mark on the base reads down and across from the right as "Imperial Japan, Made by Kinkozan" (Dai Nihon [or Nippon], Kinkozan Zo). Kinkozan was a well known Kyoto studio during the Meiji Period (1868-1912) and subsequently into the early 20th century. Japanese exhibitors and wares like this were fixtures at other Western trade expositions during the early 20th century, so there's every reason to believe they would have been at the Jamestown Tercentennial of 1907. With any luck, you may be able to find a list of exhibitors using Google.

Good luck,

Bill H.

I forgot to say that the mark, in fact, does cite the location of the Kinkozan studio as "Kyoto" in the two characters written its the upper middle.

Bill H.

Thanks for the information--- is it rare, collectible, or valuable-- sat in family room at least 50 years

Here's a link to the $200 auction result for a Kinkozan censer that's fairly close to yours in size and caliber of decoration. Yours appears to have more wear, particularly to the gilt, but it still might do better at auction due to its larger size.

The Kinkozan Studio was long-lived and prolific, producing a wide variety of items in various qualities of workmanship. Your censer is slightly above average in quality but in a motif and form that were rather common during the time it was made. You may also wish to search eBay sold items using keywords "Kinkozan censer". As is the case with the censer at the link, you'll often find Kinkozan products like yours described incorrectly as "Satsuma" instead of "Satsuma-style stoneware", which may result in an inflated sale price.

Good luck,

Bill H.

URL Title :Kinkozan

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