Meiji period Kyoto Satsuma Moriage / .明治時代京都さつま

This is one of my earliest finds from when I first began collecting Asian porcelain, and after researching it for the past several days, I have finally identified it as a Meiji period Japanese porcelain, Kyoto Satsuma Moriage.  明治時代京都さつま. circa approx. 1868 - 1890  Unfortunately when I was researching this Japanese porcelain ware and asking around for help in identifying it, I had the Satsuma marking サつまupside down, which prolonged the search for information and made if more difficult than necessary..

The term Kyoto Satsuma does not mean it was necessarily made in Kyoto and is a common name term used for the Satsuma marked "Satsuma style" wares that were made and decorated in Awata, Kyoto, & Yokohama, etc.  

Moriage is the common name for this style of decor with raised enamel painting.
 

1950s Japanese Porcelain Kutani Sake Bottle 九谷焼徳利

I went out for a walk yesterday and decided to drop in a shop and am very happy that I found this 1950s Shōwa period Japanese Porcelain Kutani Tokkuri 九谷焼徳利  ( Saké Bottle ).  It is maker marked with the mid 20th century Kutani rakkan seal and a silver foil sticker "Trade Mark Genuine Kutani Made in Japan"

pp2 est?

Early 1970s Japanese Porcelain Set Daiichi Toki 第弌陶器 Takahashi Imports 高橋 Kakiemon Style

Modern Japanese porcelain set. Soap dish, drinking cup and two containers with lids.  Is "maker" marked with a rakkan seal that reads 第弌陶器 Daiichi Toki.   One of the pieces also has the Japanese mum sticker for 高橋 Takahashi, San Francisco, a US importer.

Dai-ichi Toki is an exporter based in Tajimi City, Gifu, Japan. Takahashi is not the maker, but an importers/exporters who purchase wares in bulk from kilns and exporters, etc, for import to other countries for retail markets, mainly in the US & Europe.

So called expert "Gotheborg" erroneously claims the mark says Takahashi, which it does not since it says Daiichi Toki, with the characters 第弌陶器 in seal script.  The reason for this misidentification is probably due to the fact that an object with this mark had a Takahashi Imports sticker on it since Takahashi sold numerous Dai Ichi Toki products among various other makers.

Seal marking translated by Lita Xú Líng Kelley

1970/80s Japanese Kutani Style Porcelain Bowl Eiwa Kinsei- 栄和謹製

Japanese Shoza Kutani style porcelain dish with lid.  Red with gold gilt, bird with flowers, maker marked with a rakkan seal, 栄和謹製, Eiwa Kinsei.  ( Carefully Made by Eiwa), circa mid to late 1970s to early 1980s.  approx 3 1/2" dia x 1 1/2" high

Seal mark translation by Eddie Chinn, Penang, Malaysia and Hung-Yueh Hsu, Taipei, Taiwan

20th Century Japanese Export Arita Hijiriyama Teacup. 有田 聖山窯

Mid to late 20th Century Japanese Export Teacup Arita Hijiri-yama. 有田 聖山窯
Manufactured by Hijiriyama Kiln, Arita, Northwestern Kyushu Province, Saga prefecture, Japan. Date unknown but range between 1970 - 1990s. 

pp 5 est 15-30

Meiji Period Japanese Tashiro,田代 Yokohama Satsuma Moriage Porcelain Teacup & Saucer

Hand painted Japanese teacup & saucer, Meiji period, circa 1870s - 1910,  Tashiro, Yokohama,  Japan, Signed 田代 Tashiro., Satsuma style with moriage decor.

20th Century Bogut Gilt Famille Verte Qianlong Nian Zhi 乾隆年制 Marked Charger

博古 - Bógǔ / Bo Gu / Bogut pattern Chinese porcelain plate, gold gilt.
Marked 乾隆年制 = Qiánlóng nián zhì
Famille Verte??  Not sure.
3rd quarter 20th century , Hong Kong, 1960s- 1970s

乾隆年制

Late 19th Century Qing Dynasty Qianjiang Porcelain Teacup Painted by Yu Huan Wen 余煥文

This is the first antique Chinese porcelain piece I ever purchased, and it's the piece that got me started on collecting Chinese porcelain and ceramics.  Ever since finding this teacup and stand in a local second hand shop, I have been on the hunt for similar finds and other interesting Asian antiques.

The teacup and stand is late 19th century Qing Dynasty, Guāngxù period, painted by artist Yu Huanwen 余 煥文.  , or would that be Yuhuan Wen? Yu Huan Wen?

The base is marked 芹香山馆 Qín Xiāng Shān Guǎn, ie "Qin Xiangshan Hall"

The calligraphy reads 美人如玉仿?法煥文氏余煥文 which includes the artist's signature and seal.  The Beauty like Jade, to learn from another's methods, Huanwen, Made by Yu Huanwen  ??

Calligraphy translation provided by Hung-Yueh Hsu, Taipei, Taiwan

Jihei of Kamiya Eloping with Koharu of Kinokuniya by Kitagawa Utamaro - 喜多川 歌麿 - 実競色乃美名家見＿紙屋次兵衛・紀ノ国屋小春

Title: Jihei of Kamiya Eloping with Koharu of Kinokuniya,
( Jitsu kurabe iro no minakami: Kamiya Jihei, Kinokuniya Koharu )
Courtesan Kamiya Jihei and Kinokuniya Koharu,
from the series True Feelings Compared: The Founts of Love ( Jitsu kurabe iro no minakami ),
Late Edo period, circa 1798-1799
実競色乃美名家見＿紙屋次兵衛・紀ノ国屋小春
Artist: Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川 歌麿1753 – 31 October 1806)

Unfortunately mine is not an original Utamaro woodblock print, but a reproduction, art print poster, purchased in the frame from a local framers gallery at a discounted price.  I don't know who republished this print as a poster, however, this particular find is what got me interested in Ukiyo-e in the first place.

Be wary of deceptive sellers selling fakes of this print at excessively inflated prices, such as this one on Amazon, presumably using the "print" as a means of jacking up the price on frames.

Translation by Lita Xú Líng Kelley

Lowest Priced Chinese Chop Stone Seal Carving

Since I do my own Chinese ink brush painting, calligraphy, & watercolor, I needed a Chinese chop stone, or Chinese chop seal if you will, to sign my artwork with.

  I spent several days browsing around online for the best deals on Chinese seal carving, and I found the best price online for buying custom carved Chinese seals, direct from a carver in China.  Many online retailers and other online vendors specializing in art supplies to the Asian painting market have very inflated prices and charge anywhere from $50 to over $100 for a blank chop stone, and then they charge you an additional astronomical fee for the seal carving.  Worst part is, many online retailers are just middlemen acting as resellers.   You order your Chinese name seal from them at $100+, then they order from the carver at a mere fraction of what they're charging you.

Well, you can skip the middleman and order direct from a carver.   I have seen some seal carvers charging some insane amounts of money and as much as I really needed Chinese chop seals to stamp my paintings with, I wanted them as cheap as possible, but also to be a high quality product with excellent craftsmanship, and I'm happy that I have found just that, from a seal carver named Feng Zhuo in Qufu, Shangdong Province, China..  Qufu is the hometown and birthplace of Confucius.

I'm very happy with my order.  I contacted Feng Zhuo via his eBay shop and inquired about which size I needed for my name and received an immediate response.  I browsed around his online shop, chose my stones, and ordered two Chinese chop stone seals for $16 + $9 shipping to the US, with no additional charge for the carving.

A day later, Mr. Zhuo showed me a photograph of the seal's imprint, which is what you see in the upper right hand corner of this blog, which is the seal for my name, carved in Chinese seal script. I was satisfied with the results and Mr. Zhuo prepared my package for shipping, which only took 8 days to arrive from China to the East coast United States..

Feng Zhuo, who operates under the business name of Zhuo Yuan Seal Co. LTD aka Ideas For Life on eBay, is an award winning seal carver and engraver with over 10 years experience.  His service is superb, as well as the quality of his craftsmanship and materials.  I highly recommend him if you need Chinese chop stone seals carved with your name, etc.

My Chinese chop stones arrived well packed for safe travel from China to the US,  with their own traditional Chinese storage case.

.
The Chinese chop seals I ordered are Baiwen, also referred to as Yin Seals, which is white characters on red background, but you may also request Chinese seal carving for Zhuwen, aka Yang Seals, which is red characters on white background, which is what I'll be ordering next.

.
Unfortunately I didn't order any Chop seal paste yet, aka Yinni, or Cinnabar ink, so I am not able to show you the results of the seal inked on paper, other than the sample provided to me by Mr Zhuo.  I did however experiment by attempting to make my own mock seal paste using a thick mix of Vermillion watercolor since I just couldn't resist the temptation to try it. :)  Not too bad considering its lack of pastiness, so I can't wait til I get a Cinnabar ink tin.

In retrospect, I should have ordered any of the sets of Chinese chops that Feng Zhuo sells that include the Cinnabar ink paste.
If you order Chinese Chop Seals from Mr Zhuo, please tell him that I sent you, with high recommendations.  Who knows, maybe I'll get a discount in the future, lol.. but more importantly, I think he deserves the recognition and more business than the high priced sharks out there.

Chinese Calligraphy - Peace - Analects by Confucius - 和 - 大海書畫

Original hand painted Chinese Calligraphy.和, Peace, Analects by Confucius 
Signature seal signed 大海書畫 , Dàhǎi shūhuà, translates to Sea Painting.

和
世间谁人没
有过，莫为小事 动
干戈，和与人交受众
敬，百忍堂中有太和
万事皆以和为贵
者也仁 隆寿


PEACE
In this world, who has not offended,
One should not from mere trifles cause
Spears to be rattled, If one should mutually respect all people
In the school of the endurance of a hundred-hold, one would find peace at its center ⁽¹⁾,
If one should place peace as one's paramount in the existence of all things ⁽²⁾,
Surely such a person would attain compassion, propitiousness and longevity.

The above is a variation of a Chinese proverb containing references to the Analects by Confucius:
1) Quotation from a traditional proverb: "一勤天下无难事 百忍堂中有太和" "If one applies diligence to what one does, there is nothing that is that difficult; If one were to endure a hundred things, one would find peace".
2) Quotation from the Analects by Confucius “礼之用，和为贵 。先王之道，斯为美；小大由之。有所不行，知和而和，不以礼节之，亦不可行也”。

Translation assistance provided by Cdict.org

Lotus Flowers Painting & Poem by Mei Feng. 梅 峰

Lotus Flowers by Mei Feng, with poem in calligraphy.  Modern print, presumably from Haddad's Fine Arts, although I'm unable to confirm whether or not this is where this print originated.  Mounted and framed..

This jade green river garment permeates its pure fragrance even to the far bank, its appearance like a pavilion,  Why needs one require ten miles of lotus plants knitted together like boats in the mirror-like turbidity of water, opening as if like a meandering screen

by Mei Feng


翠薟江衣出遠汀清香冉，影亭，
何須十里蓮舟絡一鏡渾開只曲屏
梅 峰

Translation & Chinese text courtesy of Cdict.org, copyright Lita Xú Líng Kelley,
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED!

Buy the 6.75 X 11 poster version of this beautiful poem and lotus flowers print at Amazon

17th Century Chinese Painting Signed Tse-Tien 謝十 w/ Appraisal by Ling-Fu Yang

I'm very excited about this 17th century Chinese painting I just purchased and am continuing researching it, hopefully to find out more about the artist and if there's more works by this artist who simply signed his name as Tse-Tien according to artist, curator, and professor Ling Fu Yang.

I haven't been able to find anything online about an artist named Tse Tien for any period, nor for any of the various possible variations such as Tse Tian, Zhi Tian, Xie Tien, etc,

(Note:  I believe it more likely to be Tian since the character is 田 whereas the character for Tien is 十 which is pronounced Shi, although it is doubtful in my mind that Ling Fu Yang would make such a mistake, but more probably that she used Cantonese.

As for Tse, or Xie, Ze, Zhi or other potential variants, it is rather difficult for me to see and determine which, due to my poor eyesight, the small size of the signature via the red seal and the fact that it's written over black, making it more difficult for me to read.  Asking around for help, I was told that it's possibly Zhi Tian, but Tse, which sounds very similar, the character for it 謝 is also for Xie , but Zhi is 志 and I can't determine which it is on the painting itself, however, due to Ling Fu Yang's assesment, I believe the person who told me Zhi Tian is incorrect in his translation, so it may be Tse Tian, or Xie Tian I believe.

One thing that's peculiar to me about this painting is the shape of the seal, which isn't signed with a traditional chop seal, but appears to be hand painted in what I can only describe as a distorted teardrop shape rather than the standard, traditional square, circle, oval, etc.   I have never seen, nor heard of, or been able to find anything about this form of seal or signature on any Classical Chinese Paintings.

The other thing I find peculiar, and have yet to determine if was common practice, is the small size.  The painting itself is 17cm x 22cm (approx 6 13/16" x 8 3/8") without the silk border, total dimension with the border is approximately 8"x10:" which seems too convenient for modern framing, or perhaps it's just mere coincidence.

The painting is of a fishing village with fisherman in a boat in the foreground, small villages in the hills and a solitary figure on a bridge mid way up the river.   It is painted on some kind of "fabric", possibly silk which has hardened with age or perhaps linen.  It has a traditional rice paper backing and silk borders which have hardened with age.

The Chinese calligraphy reads;  "The Year of the Rat, (month of) March. In the style of the Yuen Dynasty"   One typically uses Yuan Dynasty and not Yuen, so my assumption is that Ms Ling Fu Yang used the Wade Giles form of Romanization, or more likely, used Cantonese, which would explain her use of Tien rather than Tian.

Although painted in "the style of the Yuan Dynasty", the painting itself, according to Ling Fu Yang, "was painted in the "Chin Dynasty".  I'm dumbstruck trying to figure out of her use of Chin is meant to be Ch'ing, for Qing Dynasty since Chin is more appropriate for Qin Dynasty which is certainly not the case for this work of art since Qin was thousands of years prior to the Yuan Dynasty.  Note that Ching, or Ch'ing, is also Wade Giles Romanization as well as Cantonese.

In her assessment of this painting, written on July 9, 1964, she states that the painting is "at least 260 years old; probably considerably older", which would make it at least 310 years old today, dating it no earlier than 1648 since Qing Dynasty began in 1644, to 1696 since 260 years prior to 1964 would be 1704 which was year of the Monkey, therefore, if at least 260 years old, my assumption is that it's dated between 1648 to 1696 if Ms Yang's assessment is correct, 1696 being the last Year of the Rat prior to 1708, although 1708 could also be a possibility.

Provenance:
Yang Lingfu, former curator National Palace Museum, Beijing, China.  1961, Carmel, CA.
Sold to Hazel Ann ?? - 1968
Betty Lee Morales 1968-1987

COPYRIGHT 2014 LITA KELLEY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.





For Sale:  $225,000 usd /obo + shipping & insurance

Small Flambe Glaze Cup

The post Small Flambe Glaze Cup has been relocated to my new blog on studio pottery since it may not be of Asian origin, and also because I just started collecting studio pottery.