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Can anyone translate the Japanese writing on the bottom of my Japanese vase/urn that was converted into lamp? Sincere thanks in advance.

Looks like a Kyoto Satsuma vase from the 1930's.
These vases are usually not marked and when marked, it's often a number, like yours.
In this case: 十八 18.
No idea what this number stands for.
Regards,
Martin.

Looks like a Kyoto Satsuma vase from the 1930's.
These vases are usually not marked and when marked, it's often a number, like yours.
In this case: 十八 18.
No idea what this number stands for.
Regards,
Martin.

Thank you so much. Now I have more areas to read. I’m fascinated. BTW, may I ask how you acquired all your knowledge on Asian art & history?

Hallo Sherry,
My knowledge on Asian art & history is limited to Japanese ceramics and signatures on ceramics from roughly between 1850 - 1950. But in the process of learning and thanks also to Asian Arts Forums, one picks up a (very) little knowledge about other Japanese periods and Chinese ceramics.
Furthermore I've seen thousands of Japanese vases, plates, etc. on the internet and in real live on exhibitions, auctions, museums, etc.
Learned how to compose Japanese Kanji thanks to the site https://jisho.org/#radical. So as long the characters are not too cursive I learned myself to decipher it. Over the past 20 years I have created a database of Japanese signatures from the aforementioned period of more than 4000 entries. Reading a lot on Japanese websites using the signatures / names in Kanji as search words and translated it to English using the Google translation. And stored this knowledge in the database as well.
And I collect small Japanese ceramic items, mostly cup and/or saucers.
Regards,
Martin.

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