RARE BLOCK ON TEA

JAPANESE EGG SHELL PORCELAIN & WOOD BLOCK PRINT

EDO STYLE IN MID-CENTURY

Kyo-yaki  -  Akae  -  Kakiemon

What the? I hear you say. And that's exactly what I thought when I saw this gorgeous little tea cup and saucer. 

A quick study of the print revealed itself to be genuine wood block print...I know this from my university days as a graphic artist ( which nothing like mod kids would think - we printed on ancient machinery creating wood block, lithograph and etchings ). I didn't think it was possible - yet here it is.

So the charge for more information lead straight to the big www and this is what I found - condensed version of course.

This is a kyo-yaki, or to you and me an 'egg shell' porcelain, as thin as egg shells if you like. An amazing type of porcelain which was first used in Japan during the Edo period of 1603 - 1868, some have been so thin that no light is required to test its transparency. Also during this period was the introduction of printing on porcelain with the aid of a hand carved wood block. I'm not sure how long this style of decoration lasted as many makers would have found it difficult to leave a perfect print due to the enamels (paint) lubrication between both surfaces resulting in slipping during printing. Enamel decoration on porcelain is referred to as 'Akae'. Without a exceedingly steady hand this may have been often. Information regarding this style of printed porcelain is quite limited and rarely mentioned, if ever.

Then there is also a style of Japanese porcelain produced by the Kakiemon family company. Often referred to as 'Kakiemon' itself, it features quite delicate designs with enamel decorations sparsely applied so as to emphasize the beauty of the milky-white porcelain. Another of their features is a fine red lip, which you can see quite easily here.

After what I have just related to you all, you could be forgiven for believing you are looking at an Edo Period porcelain - but alas, you are not. How do I know? Simple. I turned the cup over to find a red romanji (alphabetical writing) mark stating "MADE IN JAPAN" and although this backstamp of red dates from the 1940s and the 1950s there have been numerous exceptions to this date with items as early as the 1920s baring the same mark.

If like myself, you enjoy tea from beautiful cups, then I believe this to be more than worthy. But surely something this wonderful is on someone's wish list for a special occasion, or to add splendour to a collection.

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