Asian Arts | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries | Message Board

My uncle brought this back from the Korean war. I have no idea what language is on the back of the plate or what it could say. I would appreciate any help identifying this item. I think it is hand painted. Very colorful and intricate. What I think is cherry blossoms are raised paint. Lovely to look at that is for sure. Thank you so much. Nancy

Japanese it seems. The mark reads Kutani, made by Yamaguchi, not sure of the Japanese pronunciation of the painter's name in the left column though.

The overglaze iron red markings begin with two kanji characters that read right-to-left as "Kutani" (九谷), the geographic area where these kilns are located.

Underneath "Kutani" are two stacks of kanji containing three characters each which read down and across from the right. The right-hand stack says "Yamaguchi Sei" (山口製 - "Made at/by Yamaguchi), and the other stack reads "Kouda (or "Hirota") Ga" (廣田画 - Painted by Kouda [or Hirota]).

"Kutani" appears again impressed into the porcelain nearly upside-down at the lower left of this segment of the mark.

Finally, A two-character stack beneath all of the above, reading "Sunaga" (須永), a place name or surname.

I was unable to find other similar markings, but they may be hiding in Japanese language sites.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Asian Arts | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries | Message Board