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IN PERSON THIS IS A VERY PRIMITIVE LOOKING TEA SET THAT HAS BEEN IN MY FAMILY FOR 100 PLUS YEARS. MY MOTHER PASSED @ 94 YEARS OLD AND IT BELONGED TO HER GRAND MOTHER. THE CUPS ARE PAPER THIN AND HELD UP TO A LIGHT SOURCE YOU CAN ALMOST SEE THROUGH THEM. THERE IS A SUGAR BOWL AND TEA POT AND SOME OF THE CUPS ARE RED AND GOLD, ALL WITH MATCHING SAUCERS.
I DO NOT KNOW WHAT I HAVE HERE AND IF IT HAS GREAT VALUE OR JUST AN OLD TEA SET.
IS IT CHINESE OR JAPANESE?
ANY COMMENTS WOULD BE GRATELY APPRECIATED AND I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR INTEREST.









Link : ASIAN TEA SET

Hello Jon,

From what I understand you have two different types but they are both from Japan and, I think, both fits in the Meiji period (1868-1912)
Hard to see the piece is very thin buth that "paperthin" porcelain is usualy called "egg-shell porcelain".
The first (red-gold) piece seems to be: Kutani porcelain but the markings says something like "Watani sei" (Maybe it has something to do with Watano, Wataken or Watahira, I'm not sure, maybe others know).
The second piece looks "Eiraku" to me. Eiraku was and is made in Kyoto and is often marked with two characters.
Sorry... I'm not good with values.

Regards,

Arjan

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