We’ve had a busy month this March. Our home page has now been fully updated and streamlined, giving you better access to some of our resource pages. You can now acces our Japanese marks identification guide and Recently sold items directly through the ‘Quick Links’ section. You can also access our external Reference photo archive with high-resolution photographs of Asian works of art in our collection.
We keep adding new exclusive items to our eBay shop and regularly offer Chinese and Japanese antiques in our no reserve auctions. See the list below for upcoming auctions and newly added products.
Beautifully hand-painted porcelain bowl and cover decorated in Famille Rose enamels featuring dragon and fenghuang (Chinese phoenix) among colourful clouds chasing after the flaming pearl. Both stamped with red six-character Guangxu reign mark. Nice example of its type. In excellent condition with only minimal surface wear to overglaze enamels as per photographs. No hairlines. Diameter: 15.5 cm Height: 9 cm
Fine antique cobalt-ground Satsuma vase by Sennosuke Kusube. Decorated with two beautifully painted figural scenes – one depicting a samurai with his horse, the other depicting landscape with a fisherman. Surrounding areas heavily gilded with diaper patterns and floral sprays. In very good antique condition with some age-related rubbing to the gilding as per photographs. Marked ‘楠部’ to the base. Height: 15.5 cm
Stunning rectangular cloisonné box with slightly domed hinged lid, decorated with beautiful floral sprays set against against a black diaper ground of foliate interconnected spirals. Elegant design raised on four ball feet. Dimensions: 10x6x4.5 cm
Large early 20th century Chinese black cloisonné vase decorated in minute detail all over with fish scale pattern around the foot, ruyi-head design with hanging tassels around the neck and the main body with floral motives set against a diaper ground of foliate interconnected spirals. Height: approx. 23.5 cm
Gorgeous and rare 19th century Syrian copper pot enamelled with stylized Islamic script and geometric patterns in stunning blue enamels. Style of the enamels suggests that this was produced by the Sarraf workshop, Damascus. Typical losses and surface marks consistent with age and usage as per photographs. Dimensions: height 10 cm, diameter 10 cm. References: For very similar example see Science Museum, London – Ethnography & Folk Medicine Collection – object A121028
Beautiful late Kangxi period blue and white porcelain dish with secret ‘an hua’ relief decoration that was later in the 18th century over-painted or ‘clobbered’ in colourful enamels by Dutch artists. Clobbered decoration is a European interpretation of typical Chinese flower basket patterns found on blue and white porcelain of the period. Diameter: approx. 22 cm
Nicely painted antique Japanese scalloped dish / shallow bowl decorated in underglaze blue with an imposing Buddhist lion with fierce expression, climbing over a fence (indicated by a Greek key) and surrounded by several rocky outcroppings with flowers. Typical Aoki Kyodai-Shokai (Aoki Brothers Company) mark in underglaze blue to the base. Diameter: 18 cm
Wonderful 18th century Chinese export porcelain plate decorated in Famille Rose enamels. Depicting a scene with pierced scholars rock, bamboo and peonies framed within a scroll and surrounded by additional floral sprays and scholars objects. This is a well-known border that can be found on highly collectable plates depicting scenes from “The Romance of The Western Chamber” of the same period. Diameter: approx. 22.5 cm
Fine Japanese Kutani porcelain vase with a beautifully painted continuous scene depicting quails among flowers and weeds. Shoulder and neck of the vase embellished in heavily gilded patterns featuring various Japanese fans, flowers and foliate scrolls. Marked “Watano Sei” for Watano Trading Company. Height: 18 cm
Rare early 18th century Chinese wucai decorated export porcelain plate with central scene depicting bamboo and oversized peony behind a fence and cavetto decorated with additional floral sprays. Great early example with nicely preserved blue and aubergine enamels. Diameter: approx. 23 cm or 9 inches
This page lists some of the many maker’s marks found on antique Japanese porcelain and ceramic objects including Arita porcelain, Kutani porcelain, Seto porcelain, Satsuma pottery and others. Listed are also some vintage and modern Japanese porcelain marks. We regularly update this page.
Last updated: January 2025
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If you need further assistance with identification of unknown Japanese porcelain and pottery markings, please contact us.
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Aoki Brothers – Aoki Kyodai-Shokai Arita porcelain marked 青 in underglaze blue See examples on eBay →
Banko pottery – impressed oval seal mark that reads 萬古 ‘Banko’. Meiji, Taishō and later See examples on eBay →
Chenghua – apocryphal Chinese style six-character Chenghua reign mark 太明成化年製 ‘Tai Ming Chenghua Nian Zhi’ or ‘Daimin seika nensei’ in Japanese. Often found on Imari Arita porcelain. See examples on eBay →
Choshuzan – Satsuma pottery marked in gold on black background 長州山 ‘Choshuzan’, sometimes also just 長州 ‘Choshu’; Meiji period See examples on eBay →
Choshuzan – satsuma style pottery inscribed 大日本 ‘Dai Nippon’ 長州山作 ‘Choshuzan saku’ 薩广国 實生院画 ‘Satsuma kuni Jissei-in ga’ 義定筆 ‘Yoshisada hitsu’ – Great Japan, Choshuzan workshop, painted by Jissei-in after a design by Yoshisada. See examples on eBay →
Chozan – Satsuma pottery marked in gold on black background 亰都朝山 ‘Kyoto Chozan’ (alternative reading ‘Kyoto Asayama’); Meiji period See examples on eBay →
Daikichi kiln – underglaze blue rectangular seven-character mark that reads 美濃国 大吉窯造 ‘Mino nokuni Daikichi gama zō’ – Mino province, Made by Daikichi kiln See examples on eBay →
Fukagawa Koransha – orchid symbol (koransha meaning ‘orchid style’) used since 1870s (Meiji period) until today See examples on eBay →
Fukagawa Seiji mark depicting Mt. Fuji and a river – used since the foundation of the company in 1894 and throughout the 20th century. See examples on eBay →
Fukagawa Seiji – alternative mark with Mt. Fuji and inscribed ‘Fukagawa Sei’ 深川製 (made by Fukagawa). Early 20th century, Meiji – Taishō period See examples on eBay →
Fuki-Chosun mark 冨貴長春 (wealth, nobility, longevity, and youth) – wish for good fortune and long life found on Imari porcelain. Meiji – Taishō period See examples on eBay →
Fuku mark 福 (happiness or good fortune) found on Kutani porcelain and pottery. Used by various studios and decorators. See examples on eBay →
Fuku 福 – another version of this mark, this time with yellow background. Found on Edo period Yoshidaya style Aode Kutani charger. See examples on eBay →
Fukumoto Eitarō (福本榮太郎) – Hirado porcelain marked 平戸産福本造 ‘Hirado-san Fukumoto-zō’ – Produced in Hirado by Fukumoto. Meiji Period See examples on eBay →
Fuzan – miniature cobalt blue ground Satsuma vase marked ‘Fuzan’ 冨山. Meiji – Taishō period See examples on eBay →
Genroku – Tominaga Genroku 富永源六 (1859-1920), founder of Genroku-yaki in Ureshino, Saga prefecture. Underglaze blue mark reads ‘Genroku sei’ 源六製 (Made by Genroku). See examples on eBay →
Gyozan – Okada Gyōzan 岡田曉山 – mark found on Kenzan style pottery. Also produced Ninsei style pieces and other Kyoto Satsuma ware. Early 20th century. See examples on eBay →
Hattori – fine quality Satsuma pottery marked 服部之造; late 19th – early 20th c., Meiji period See examples on eBay →
Hichozan Shinpo – Arita Imari decorated porcelain marked ‘Hichōzan Shinpo zō’ 肥碟山信甫造; Edo-Meiji period; see also Tashiro Monzaemon below See examples on eBay →
Higashi Fujiaki (東富士明, b. 1928) – Kutani porcelain with sqaure mark on a blue-green background that reads 九谷 富士明 ; 20th century
Ichizan – Satsuma pottery marked ‘Ichizan’ 市山 and with Shimazu clan mon above. Taishō period See examples on eBay →
Imaemon – Imaizumi Imaemon 今泉今右衛門 – Nabeshima (Iro-Nabeshima) porcelain marked イマエモン ‘Imaemon’ (今右衛門); produced since mid-17th century, Edo period until present day (Imaizumi Imaemon XIV) See examples on eBay →
Imura – alternative mark that reads “Nippon Yokohama Imura Sei” 日本横濱 井村製 See examples on eBay →
Inoue Ryosai 井上良斎 – Sumida Gawa pottery with impressed ‘Ryosai’ 良斎 mark; early 20th century See examples on eBay →
Ishiguro Koko 石黒香々 (or 石黒香香) – Sumida Gawa pottery with underglaze impressed mark 香二 inside a double gourd; sometimes incorrectly translated as Ban-ni; early 20th century See examples on eBay →
Iwai – Iwai Hakuzan 岩井白山 – satsuma pottery mark 岩井 ‘Iwai’; early 20th century See examples on eBay →
Iyama – satsuma pottery mark 井山 ‘Iyama’; early 20th century, Meiji-Taishō period See examples on eBay →
Kaburaki “Kutani Kaburagi Sei” 九谷 鏑木製 – founded by Jisuke Kaburaki in 1822 (Kanazawa) See examples on eBay →
Kaburaki – alternative mark that reads 加賀 九谷 鏑木製造 ‘Kaga (former province) Kutani, Made by Kaburaki’ See examples on eBay →
Kachoken – Kutani porcelain marked with nine-character iron red mark 大日本九谷華暢軒製 (Great Japan Kutani, Made by Kachoken) – often appears on works by Haruna Shigeharu (1847-1914); Meiji period See examples on eBay →
Kaizan – stylized Satsuma pottery mark on black background inside a double gold border. Reads ‘Kaizan Sei’ 介山製 (Made by Kaizan); Meiji period See examples on eBay →
Kakiemon – this example of underglaze blue Kakiemon porcelain mark is by Sakaida Kakiemon XII (十二代 酒井田柿右衛門, 1878-1963), but very similar marks were also used by later generations. See examples on eBay →
Kato Kanshiro 加藤勘四郎 – also known as Hishikan 菱勘. Underglaze blue Seto porcelain mark ◇勘製. Sometimes acommpanied by impressed underglaze oval mark ◇勘. See examples on eBay →
Kato Shubei II (1848-1903) – Seto ware mark that reads 白云堂 周兵製 ‘Hakuundo Shubei’; Meiji period See examples on eBay →
Kato Shubei II (二代加藤周兵卫, 1848-1903) – alternative underglaze blue Seto porcelain mark that reads ‘Haakundo’ 白雲堂 (right to left). See examples on eBay →
Kawamoto Masukichi II (二代 川本桝吉, 1852-1918) “Kawamoto Zo” 川本造. Artist name ‘Shusetsu’ 秀雪 See examples on eBay →
Kinkozan – another version of the satsuma mark above that simply reads ‘Kinkozan’ 錦光山. Appearance of Kinkozan studio mark can vary greatly based on the decorator and quality of the piece. Early 20th century. See examples on eBay →
Kizan – alternative rectangular Satsuma mark written as 竒山 ‘Kizan’; Meiji – Taishō period See examples on eBay →
Kizan – rectangular gold mark on iron red background and with Shimazu crest above. 岐山 – Kizan or Gizan; Meiji period Satsuma pottery See examples on eBay →
Koshida – rectangular gold mark 越田 on iron red background; early 20th century Satsuma pottery See examples on eBay →
Kouraku kiln – modern Japanese porcelain marked 幸樂窯 ‘Kouraku gama’ with impressed stamp underneath See examples on eBay →
Kusube – alternative “Kusube” 楠部 Satsuma mark in iron red either by Kusube Sennosuke or his son Kusube Yaichi (1897-1984). Often accompanied by stamped FOREIGN export mark; Taishō period See examples on eBay →
Kutani 九谷 – underglaze blue Kutani mark written in stylized script and inside a double square border See examples on eBay →
Kutani – another version of generic Kutani red mark that reads 九谷製 ‘Kutani-sei’ (Made in Kutani) See examples on eBay →
Kyokuzan – early 20th century Satsuma pottery marked ‘Kyokuzan’ 旭山 See examples on eBay →
Meigyoku – gilt Satsuma pottery mark on black backround that reads 大日本 薩摩製 明玉画 ‘Dai Nippon, Satsuma Sei, Meigyoku Ga’ (Great Japan, Satsuma-made, painted by Meigyoku) and with Shimazu crest above; Meiji period See examples on eBay →
Meigyokuzan – fine quality Satsuma pottery with gilt rectangular mark on blue backround that reads 大日本 明玉山 ‘Dai Nippon, Meigyokuzan’ (Great Japan, Meigyokuzan) and with Shimazu crest above; Meiji period See examples on eBay →
Miyagawa ‘Makuzu’ Kozan – 宮川香山 – underglaze blue mark that reads 真葛香山製 ‘Made by Makuzu Kozan’. There were four generations that used this mark throughout the first half of the 20th century – Makuzu Kozan I-IV. See examples on eBay →
Momota – alternative 百田造 ‘Momota Zo’ Kutani porcelain mark inside a black fan-shaped background with gold border. Written from right to left. Early 20th century. See examples on eBay →
Nakamura Shuto I (1864-1928) – Kutani porcelain marked 日本橫濱中村造之 ‘Nippon Yokohama Nakamura Zo Kore’. Taishō period See examples on eBay →
Naruse Seishi (成瀬誠志, 1845-1923) – signed studio name ‘Tohakuen’ 陶博園 See examples on eBay →
Nikkozan – Satsuma pottery signed ‘Nikkozan’ 日光山 – gold rectangular mark on black background with red Shimazu crest above; early 20th century See examples on eBay →
Nishimura Saichi 西村佐一 – Kutani porcelain iron red mark 加賀 綿野製 西村佐一描 ‘Kaga, Made by Watano, Painted by Nishimura Saichi’; Meiji period See examples on eBay →
NoritakeCompany (1904-present) – there are many known variations of Noritake Nippon China marks that were in use over the last 100+ years and these backstamps can be a very useful tool for dating of antique and vintage Noritake porcelain. Please contact us for more details.
Variations of Noritake marks include wreath marks with letter M inside (Morimura brothers – original founders of the company), sometimes with the word ‘Noritake’ above but often only with words ‘Hand Painted’ above and ‘NIPPON’ below. Another commonly seen logo has a stylized ‘komaru’ symbol (which looks like a double trident) inside a circle with ‘Noritake’ above and ‘MADE IN JAPAN’ below. There are also Noritake Nippon marks with letters RC for ‘Royal Crockery’ and marks featuring the original Japanese name ‘Nippon Toki Kaisha’ (Japan Pottery Company). More modern marks also feature the words ‘BONE CHINA’, ‘Ivory China’ or ‘Fine China’. Please note that Noritake marks mentioned above were sometimes also faked by other studios so their presence doesn’t necessarily mean that your item is a genuine piece of Noritake porcelain.
Ryozan – early 20th century Meiji-Taishō period Satsuma pottery with Shimazu crest and rectangular ‘Ryozan’ 亮山 mark See examples on eBay →
Satsuma – unusual mark with ‘Satsuma’ written in cursive and with Shimazu crest either below or above. Found on Soko China style Satsuma vases dating to the early 20th century.
Seirando – iron red rectangular mark that reads 大日本九谷 青藍堂製 ‘Great Japan, Kutani, Made by Seirando’. Seirando was studio in Kobe founded by Kawajiri Kihei. 19th century, Meiji period See examples on eBay →
Shuzan – alternative Satsuma mark on red background that reads 珠山. Early 20th century See examples on eBay →
Suzuki Company – logo of this distributor is most often found in its printed form on post-WWII export pieces (sometimes also with the name 铃木 ‘Suzuki’ printed below). However, this handwritten version was found on a fully hand-painted pre-WWII tea set. See examples on eBay →
Taizan Yohei 帯山与兵衛 – Kachō-ga style satsuma pottery marked 大日本 帯山製 (Great Japan, Made by Taizan) in black overglaze enamel. Meiji – early Taisho era See examples on eBay →
Takahashi Dohachi IV – 四代 高橋道八 – pseudonym Kachutei – porcelain marked 華中亭道八製 ‘Kachutei Dohachi Sei’. Kyo yaki / kiyomizu-ware studio since Edo period. Fourth generation Takahashi Dohachi succeeded his father in 1874. See examples on eBay →
Takayama – iron red Kutani mark that reads 高山画 ‘Takayama-ga’ (painted by Takayama); early 20th century See examples on eBay →
Takeuchi Chubei – patent numbers such as this one are characteristic for porcelain (and metalware) by Takeuchi Chubei. This example is in underglaze blue but more commonly they are written in overglaze black or red enamels, often accompanied by artists name 竹内忠兵衛 and inscription 許特賣專 “exclusive sales permit” or “licensed patent dealer”; Meiji – Taishō period See examples on eBay →
Takeuchi Chubei – more characteristic form of the patent mark shown above – this example is in overglaze black enamel; Meiji – Taishō period See examples on eBay →
Tamamura Shogetsu玉村松月 – Hagi ware (萩焼, Hagi-yaki) stamped 松月 ‘Shogetsu’ inside double circles. 20th century See examples on eBay →
Tanga Hirose 広瀬淡雅 of Tenpozan Hon Kiln 天鵬山 本窯, part of Tenpozan Tsubaki Kiln 天鵬山 椿窯 – modern Japanese Hagi ware (萩焼, Hagi-yaki). Impressed kiln mark and oval red seal from the original storage box. See examples on eBay →
Taniguchi – porcelain marked 九谷 谷口製 ‘Kutani Taniguchi Sei’ – made by Kichijiro Taniguchi. Company active between 1875 and 1954. See examples on eBay →
Tashiro – rectangular iron red and gilt mark that reads 大日本 九谷 田代造 ‘Great Japan, Kutani, Made by Tashiro. Early 20th century See examples on eBay →
Tashiro Monzaemon (1816-1900) – underglaze blue mark ‘Dai Nippon Hichōzan Shinpo zō’ 大日本 肥碟山信甫造 See examples on eBay →
Toritei – iron red mark on Awata ware Satsuma pottery that reads ‘Toritei Zo’ 東籬亭造 – Made by Toritei; Meiji Period See examples on eBay →
Uchida – Satsuma pottery marked in gold on black background ‘Uchida’ 内田 Taishō period See examples on eBay →
Uzu-fuku (also uzufuku or uzu-huku) 渦福 – mark found on Kakiemon and other Arita porcelain examples. Edo period See examples on eBay →
Wanli – apocryphal Chinese six character Wanli reign mark in underglaze blue within double circles; reads 大明萬曆年製 ‘Dai Min manreki nensei’ in Kanji; found on Edo and Meiji period Arita Imari examples See examples on eBay →
Watano – alternative Kutani mark with name written as 綿埜製 dating to the period of Watano Genuemon (綿野 源右衛門), late 19th century See examples on eBay →
Wataya – Kutani porcelain marked 九谷造綿谷製 ‘Kutani Zo Wataya Sei’ – Kutani Made by Wataya – probably Wataya Heibei (綿谷平兵衛), Meiji Period See examples on eBay →
Yamashita Kutani porcelain mark 山下画 “Yamashita Ga” – painted by Yamashita See examples on eBay →
Here are some of our recently sold items. Visit our shop for currently available products and explore our eBay shop for even more exclusive Asian art and antiques. For any enquiries please use our live chat, contact form or email [email protected]
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