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I had to pay a pretty penny for this little vase, but I've never seen anything like it.

The banner shaped cartouche in black and gold looks like Satsuma influence, but the mark appears to me to be 'yokohama Kawato Zo' (Arita?), but the marks I found are done in red and rather roughly rendered.

Some clarification on the mark and artist would be greatly appreciated.

I found some paintings by Kawanabe Kyosai of dancing skeletons which appear to be the influence on the design, but I've found nothing in regard to porcelains. I'm assuming the piece is late Meiji / Taisho period.

I also found some very nicely rendered Kawato Zo porcelains. Is that the artist's name?

https://auction.catawiki.com/kavels/15143807-rare-set-of-8-eggshell-porcelain-plates-decorated-with-street-scenes-japan-ca-1915-late-meiji-or-early-taisho-period


Tim

The mark reads: Dai Nippon 大日本 Yokohama 横浜 Kawamoto 川本 Zo Kore 造之 (Great Japan Yokohama Kawamoto made this).
So not Kawato 川戸.
I think this is a mark of Kawamoto Kengo, who lived in Yokohama and made Kutani-like ware. He was an exhibitor on the St. Louis (Missouri) World Fair in 1904.
I've added another mark of Kawamoto / Yokohama, as you can see it's different from yours.
Another possibility is, that this mark is by Kawamoto Hansuke / Kawamoto Masukichi, but they made Seto ware.
Regards,
Martin.

Thank you! The variations in how kanji is written is always a challenge for me...especially since I don't read or write it.

Wow, very unusual piece! Love the color combination - white on a rich chocolate brown ground. The decoration, probably derived from a woodblock print, seems to be a reference to our ultimate fate and a reminder not to take ourselves too seriously. In any event I think it’s a thought provoking work of art, a masterpiece that transcends craft. Thanks for sharing and I hope others can help with the mark. Attached is a picture of a similarly themed, rare, Roman slipware vessel from the first century AD.

It is fascinating to me how death transcends all cultures into art. Lovely Roman vessel. thx

Tim, the following website gives the mark as Yokohama, Kawamoto:

http://litaxulingkelley.blogspot.com/p/japanese-porcelain-marks.html

Here's an unmarked skeleton vase with a sale price of $1700, if you haven't already seen it:

https://classic.liveauctioneers.com/item/39978168_a-japanese-toba-sojo-style-porcelain-scenic-vase

Cheers,

Bill H.

I had not seen this toba sojo vase, so thank you very much for the link!

Hi Tim,

I can't be much of help I think but I like to say you have bought yourself a very special piece. "Zo" is not a part of the name but it means something like "made by". Beside the cartouche the decoration near the top also looks Satsuma inspired but the border near the foot is rather typical for Kutani-like wear from Yokohama.
The distance between Arita and Yokohama is about 1000 kilometer (I guess) so it's not Arita.


Regards,

Arjan

Even the Japanese language web sites do not agree on the above marking.
Summarizing up their contents,
⓵　In 1924 there was a pottery trader (陶磁器貿易商）　
registered in Yokohama Hongo 1-18 under the name of Kawamoto Kengo (川本健吾）　
⓶　In 1930 a manufacturer Kawamoto Shōten (川本商店） was registered in Yokohama, Hongo 1-7, "buying dough and painting them in Yokohama"
Name of owner: Kawamoto Soroku (川本惣六）

With regards,
I.Nagy

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