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Hi all, I'm new to this forum and to Japanese ceramics. I just purchased two vases which I assumed were pair. When I got them home, I noticed only one had a stamp or mark, and that although the patterns were the same, the two vases are quite dissimilar. I'm uploading pictures of the smaller vase and any help identifying or dating it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Deep Blue (cobalt?) glazed jar w/ enamel decoration, brown Kanji stamp... legit Katuni?

Rose, the gold emblem on your jar looks like a legitimate late 20th century Kutani mark to me. Whether and what kind of mark a Japanese or other manufacturer would apply to a product like this depends on where, when and for whom it was made. For instance, a Kutani vase of this same period and decoration might not bear a permanent mark at all if it was part of a lot made for export under paper labels or for sale in an American military exchange. Also, motifs with pheasants, peacocks, or pairs of birds in general (symbolic of marital harmony) tend to be treated much more as generic patterns in Japan and China, so lots of different factories produce them.
Regards,
Bill H

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