Topic: Japanese Blue & White Vase with Unusual Mark

[Mosquito]

Hi,

I've had this very fine quality Japanese porcelain vase for some time now, however, I've never been able to figure out the unusual four sided diamond shape mark on the base. I guess it's a maker's mark, but I've yet to see another example. The mark is also impressed into the base - it doesn't appear to be a Japanese character, neither Kanji nor Hiragama so does anyone have a clue?

Thanks,
Steven

[antiquerose123]

Hi there....there is that good chines site....just a second - have to find it.....<pause>

here it is:  http://gotheborg.com/marks/index_marks.htm

Japanese marks:  http://gotheborg.com/marks/index_jap_marks.htm

There is someone here on the Board that can Kinda read them -- I forget who it is.  Maybe Anne can remember who it is and see if they can help.  I always am stumped with these types as so hard to read....but check out that site above to see if you can see anything there.
 

[keith]

Will check my books in the morning after I get back from a little retail therapy,glass wise,
              Keith.

[Mosquito]

Hi,

Thanks for the suggestions, sadly this exact mark isn't included in the Gotheborg site. It is also unlikely to be Kanji as it isn't a Chinese character and I haven't been able to find it in lists of Kokuji thus far. Neither is it included in my table of Hiragana, so that's why i think it must be a logo created specifically as an individual or company's mark/ seal. Altogether it's very confusing, though it's interesting to note that the diampond shape is used as a border around other marks shown on Gotheborg, i.e. no.239 around 永 (Ei) & no. 730 Matsukawa.

Anyway, I'm tentatively dating this vase as late 19th century, does anyone concur?

Thanks,
Steven
Steven

[keith]

Have only got this so far,excuse crude drawing,it's one of many marks meaning made,created,cause to be etc........will look in my other books for the rest,Keith.

[keith]

P.S it says 'sei'

[Mosquito]

Hi Keith, thanks for that, I knew the meaning of the character, but didn't know the Japanese pronunciation. it's 製 is pronounced 'zhi4' in Chinese. In mainland China the character has been simplified to 制. The other character above (in the middle) appears to be 勘 (kan1 in Chinese), but I don't know the Japanese pronunciation.

[keith]

Will check my Japanese kanji dictionary,there are five characters I know of that mean 'made' apart from sei there is tsukeru,zo,seisu and ko....most with more than one way of being written,Keith.

[antiquerose123]

Interesting to be able to decipher Chinese letters.......all I can say is WOW you guys are AMAZING !!