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Can anyone help me to identify this beautiful vase?

Thanks in advance

Hello,

Your lovely vase is Japanese not Chinese and is of a type called sharkskin. The marking on the bottom is the "seal of authenticity" by the maker.

Kind regards.

Your porcelain vase is Japanese. Its tactile surface earns it the name 'sharkskin', but it also is known by the trade name 'Coralene'. It is produced by a kiln-firing process involving special fluxes, so was expensive. Due to its cost, Japanese sharkskin porcelain was made only for a short time circa the late 19th century.

The writing on the base is a monopoly patent mark of the artist Chubei Takeuchi (also rendered as Chiubei Takeuchi and sometimes with Takeuchi first), who was active in the second half of the 19th century. See the link below for a wealth of information regarding him, as well as the patent markings.

Essentially, the two bold characters at the top of the mark are read from the right as 'Exclusive Permit'. The next line down is the patent number, which I also would read from the right as '2252515', though I believe the website below has it reading from the left (I defer to Japanese experts on this point). The bold vertical stack of three characters reads down as 'Made by Takeuchi'. I believe the three smaller characters to its right probably are the Japanese phonetic notations for this line in the mark.

My research on the subject suggests these patent marks came into use circa 1885, after the establishment of the first Japanese Patent Office. I think there were changes to the patent law in Japan when the USA implemented labeling requirements under the McKinley Tariff Act in 1890. If this assumption is correct, then yours and other such vases with these markings probably date to between 1885-1890.


Herewith I also include a photo of another sharkskin vase by the same artist in my own collection.

Best Regards,

Bill H.



URL Title :ChubeiTakeuchi

Both are great example how much can not be conveyed by image alone.

Good luck,
Cal

Thanks for all great help.

Best regards

Robert

Hi there! I've got a quick query, re: the Chiubei marks! Anyone here speak Meiji era Nihongo?

I was wondering if you could translate these marks for me. I know that the 2252515 is present on both, and the "Exclusive License" kanji are there as well, but they are both in different hands, and the signatures definitely do not look like the same kanji for Takeuchi himself. My question is, I'm sure he had assistants, did they ever sign their pieces? Or did he do everything himself?

I'm sure some of you may have seen these exact vases before. I'm trying to ascertain authenticity before committing to a purchase.

One last thing, the paper sales sticker which says, I believe, "Happiness." Is that authentic?

Thanks,
Colin

http://www.flickr.com/photos/49490165@N03/8367339471/

I'm interested in obtaining more info about Chubei and I tried to go to the link provided in your post but that link isn't working. Do you know of any sources about him and his patent marks?

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