Antique Japanese Blue and White (Sometsuke) Porcelain Hibachi With Applied Inscription

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. While living in Tokyo, Japan due to corporate transfers between 1975-1978 and, again,1985-1988 I collected detailed hand-painted antique Japanese … Read more . While living in Tokyo, Japan due to corporate transfers between 1975-1978 and, again,1985-1988 I collected detailed hand-painted antique Japanese porcelains from various antique stores in Japan.
. Currently, I am beginning to list my collection of blue and white antique Imari bowls and plates and other antique blue and white, Imari pieces, antique Japanese colored Japanese Imari rice/soup bowls with lids, other colored Imari and some Chinese antique porcelains.
. I am now a retired professional interior designer and was a member of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) for many years.
. This antique porcelain hibachi is believed to be from Seto production-late Meiji Seto or 1880.
. The decoration is continuous (sansui) mountain and water and landscape with a waterside pavillion/temple, small boat, distant hills and extensive open space suggesting water and mist.
. The lower register is particularly interesting-the repeated shaped panels with stylized floral forms and narrow vertical divisions look deliberately composed as a border, rather than mass production transfer decoration
. Also, there are several characteristics consistent with hand-painted underglaze cobalt. The mountains contain washes of different density; tree foliage is built from individual brush touches; architectural lines vary slightly; and the boat is freely drawn.
. The circa is later Meiji (1868-1912).
. The brown cartouche applied conspicuously to the exterior, with the characters incised in a litter color indicating the workshop, decorator, kiln and artistic signature make this more valuable.
. The central pine motif symbolizes longevity and resilience in Japanese culture and is a classic element.
. Left-hand vertical column very likely reads "Akazuware" that is significant because Azazu is a historic pottery district with Seto, Aichi prefecture.
. The Seto Folk Art Museum additionally confirms that hibachi were among the household vessels historically made in both the Azazu and Shinano districts of Seto.
. However, it is possible my hibachi dates to the Showa period (1926–1989)and is marked “Goeisha sei” (互榮社製), meaning “Made by Goeisha,” a Japanese porcelain studio.
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