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I have a question about the mark on the 2nd picture below.
The mark reads IMO: Kobe 神戸 - Kita 北 Zo 造 (made by Kita).
I have seen more of these marks and all have 2 dots underneath the Kita 北 Kanji.
Has anyone any idea what that means? (I.Nagy?).
Thanks in advance,
Martin.







Link :Michels

According to a Japanese language link, the
mark with ".." under 北 was a shop noren (cotton hanging) mark.
In the 1880s an enterpreneur and shop owner named Kitayoshi Uemon (北義右衛門) in Kobe, Moto-machi hired a porcelain painter from Kutani who applied golden red decorations on Kutani ware. He run two shops in the Moto-machi area. On the cotton curtain hanging at the entrance of Hōkōdō (放香堂) where tea and coffee were sold, under the character 北　 there was "." (one dot), and at the entrance of Kaga Kutani Sales Office (加賀九谷賣捌所) where painted Kutani ware were sold, under the character 北 there was ".." (two dots).
The "one dot" and the "two dots" symbols used to distinguish the stores of Kitayoshi Uemon.

With regards
I.Nagy

Dear I.Nagy,
Again you amaze with the way you find your information. Great story.
Thanks so much.
Martin.

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