Collectables

JAPANESE SATSUMA WITH KUTANI SCRIPT?

From my personal collection of Oriental Earthenware Pottery is this puzzling little vase. Although it looks delicate its weight is telling of its earthernware form. I have not had the success in deciphering the script on the base as it may read ‘Ku- tani’ (which is not the style of the vase but possible the place of its creation) which makes this piece so unique or perhaps an older script signature of one of the thousands of Japanese potters which is also rare. Either way it is neither 'Nippon' or 'Made In Japan' marked - designed and made for the tourist market - which leads me to believe it was made for Japan’s local market. I have enjoyed this piece for many years and look forward to passing it on to another oriental admirer.

 

Origin …..... Japan
Marks …. Script: unknown signature / Kutani
Item ……..... small vase
Features …. Short bulbous body, narrow neck with gilt rim. 

Full body crackle glase. Depicts oriental Court Carriage, cherry/apple blossom and chrysanthemums.

Under glaze dark blue. 

 Glazed base.

Size: : L: H: cm, D: cm, 

Handle to handle: cm.
:
Condition
Excellent to very good used condition commensurate for age. No cracks, breaks or repairs that I can see. Small crazing discolouration to rim (photo 7).

(reposting/sharing of this item requires link back to this page, thank you) 

Delicate Half Doll

She's so pretty!

This lovely half doll was made in Germany between 1900 - 1920 and although she is an antique she is a delight even today. Her life was most likely atop a pin cushion, lamp shade or even a duster.

There is little available information regarding this very collectable field of dolls but I have been able to piece together little more than this:

From 1900 to 1920 saw the greater production of half dolls, although, a few have been known to be produced prior and after these dates. On average they ranged in height from 5cm to as high as 15cm and were made of porcelain, yet others do exist that are shorter and taller as well as being produced from numerous other material including wax and composition. They are often found unmarked, marked with their country of origin i.e. Germany or Japan, or Made In preceding country, or may be marked with a 4-5 digit pattern/code.

In value you find crudely painted pieces with arms close to the body, mostly from Japan and occasionally Germany, at the lower end of the $ scale, and are more commonly found. These pieces only require a 2 piece mould (front & back) to quickly accomplish the shape.

 The more desirable half dolls with arms away (i.e. away from the body) with nice detailing are up to 10 times more valuable, especially if they posses elaborate hair up-does and rare accessories which include: vanity items, flowers and flower baskets. These pieces require great skill to achieve moulds of numerous pieces which fit together as a puzzle, which can then be separated from the piece without breakage.

 At the highest level of value you will find the so called ‘Chocolate Ladies’ which may command thousands of dollars for their purchase.
You can read more about this precious find in my Etsy store RESTOREDau.

BALL & CLAW BOTTLE

After many hours of research, I took a closer look and found ... it is ... A FAKE!

This is a FAKE of the reproduction BALL & CLAW BOTTLE of amethyst glass complete with cork stopper.

As with FAKE glass it comes with all the forced antiquing: excessive bubbles and impurities within the glass, excessively rough patch to surface and the unmistakable base embossing of “MADE IN TAIWAN”. The talons are clearly defined as are the words “Worlds Best Remedy, Wheaton N.J.” and “Indian Drug Speciality Company”. The bottle appears to be in excellent fake vintage condition with no cracks, chips or damage to the embossing, the cork is present but a few small pieces broken away which doesn’t affect this piece in any way.

Make no mistake...this is not the original (and yes they do exist, they are not all reproduction as some ‘experts’ will tell you), nor is it a reproduction (identified with “Wheaton Village” embossed on base), it is a clear FAKE!

This lovely little fake would make a great ‘filler’ for your collection, until you are able to replace it with a reproduction or even the original. Ideally, one could collect the fakes for themselves.

Did I mention it was a FAKE!?! Every treasure hunter needs one occasionally to keep us on our toes (though I think that's just what I tell myself).

But this is what I discovered while the hours ticked by....

Many ‘experts’ proclaim all Wheaton’s  miniature bottles to be colonial reproductions  from the late 1960s - early 1970s, while regular people still indicate that they are incorrect as they have been collecting these bottle since the mid 1950s. So, experts are not  always right, I guess. But it does make it difficult to date these dainty little bottles.

The Wheaton Glass Works of New Jersey, USA, began in 1888 by a physician with a passion for beauty and quality in hand blown glass, Dr Theodore Wheaton. The Ball & Claw miniature bottle is just one from a collection of 24 designs of full sized bottles by Wheaton. Colours of this particular miniature bottle include: Topaz (yellowish), aqua, blue, green, cobalt, avocado, and ruby.  Only certain designs, such as the Ball & Claw, included the colours of cobalt and avocado, along with: Dr Fisch Bitters, Franklin Flask, Jaundice Bitters, Jenny Lind, and the Straubmuller Wheaten bottle, only 6 of the original 24 deigns.

And finally, there are 3 categories of this miniature bottle, they are: Originals, Reproductions, and then there is mine, Fakes. Luckily I picked it up for only a poorly sum at a market stall. I am still giggling from my fabulous findings and I hope that I have provided you all with a little humour for your day. ;)

FUKAGAWA - JAPAN

Many people and even collectors have been known to snub the porcelain wares of Asia believing them to be poor quality in comparison to those of Britain and Europe. HOW WRONG THEY ARE!

The finest quality porcelains originated in Asia (Korea, Japan, & China) and were traded to the Western countries in the early days. By 'early days' I don't mean 1940s or even 1900s. I'm talking 1600s & 1700s along the 'silk road' and by sea. 

British & European manufacturers soon followed the Asian processes to develop and refine their own wares. Many of the Asian manufacturers continue to use these ancient methods to create to-days wares to meet with the high demand for fine china. From ancient to new Japanese porcelains remain highly sort by collectors the world over.

Vintage Antique Japanese Porcelain Vase- Fukagawa-Sei,  深川, Made by Fukagawa, Fukagawa, Arita, Japan. Imari Kiku Design (Chrysanthemum), Meiji Period 1868-1913

Fukagawa Porcelain Company is but one of these Asian porcelain companies who have continued to implement their traditional methods in to modern manufacturing, and have been the official supplier to the Imperial Household in Japan since 1910.

As they say " Fukagawa is a family, company and city " in Japan, equally with an enduring history.

I found this lovely Fukagawa vase recently and couldn't wait to share it with you.  It features a rich cobalt blue underglaze (which means they painted the blue before applying a clear glaze and firing it to set it) with a gorgeous overglaze of traditional Japanese kiku design (chrysanthemums) in what is known as 'Imari' styled art work. Imari refers to the rich red, blue and gold art works, which often completely covered the porcelain ware but was so called to identify the wares that were being exported from the Japanese port of Imari. These ornate decorative wares were all applied by highly skilled artisans. No shaky hands here!

Mount Fuji & Stream Logo With "Made By Fukagawa" Japanese Characters

Fukagawa-sei back stamped in blue features the Mount Fuji and stream logo, and characters of the Fukagawa Porcelain Company. Gotheborg indicates the historical use of this backstamp most likely to be c. 1900-1920, though backstamps are known to exceed their own time periods, just to confuse us all. This mark galls between both Meiji (1868-1913) and Taisho (1913-1926) periods and just reaches in to the Showa (1926-1988) period also. I estimate this piece to be c. late 1890s, having been guided by Gotheborg's following information.

Fukagawa 'Imari' Wares Rate Highly On The Collectors Market

                                                                               From www.gotheborg.com – “1891 the McKinley Tariff Act was instated, requiring items imported into the United States to be marked in English with the country of origin. The name "Nippon" was chosen for items coming from Japan. (Nippon is the Japanese name for Japan.) In 1921, the official country of origin name requirement was changed to "Japan", thus creating a defined time period 1891-1921 in which wares were marked Nippon. Previous to 1891, items were either not marked at all, or marked with Japanese characters. During the period 1921-1941 porcelain should be marked "Japan" and roughly after 1941, marked "Made in Japan", though numerous exceptions appears to occurs.”

You can now find this item in our Etsy Store

click here to visit

DOG LOVERS NEED ONLY APPLY!

Poodle dog ready to take home. 
Easy to care for and quiet around the house.
This lovely little poodle is the perfect RETRO PET. 

Made in JAPAN and known as REDWARE (terracotta / earthenware) is unmarked or missing its label/sticker.
High gloss black glaze with gold highlighting and white eyes (of which there is only one (1) ).

Lovely vintage condition with no chips or cracks and some wear to the gold and enamal from one (1) eye missing. 

Behind the neck are to (2) holes possibly to tie ribbon, making it a wonderful accessory for any room.
This particular design is rarely found for sale which is a good indication of how much they are loved by their owners.



As you can see, she looks like a good listener, too, as she stands to attention.

NO LONGER AVAILABLE

CLICK ICON TO VISIT

FURSTENBERG / BENDIGO POTTERY

No longer available .....

This beautiful piece of collectable, fine porcelain from West Germany is a flash back to the retro beat of the 1980s.
Fürstenberg was first established in Germany in 1747 and is still operational today, producing a range of porcelains still popular with collectors worldwide including tableware and figurines. It should be noted that many of their modern productions are made using their old moulds as a means to preserve their heritage

From all my readings I believe, and it has been said by made, that Furstenberg artists were never permitted to identify their works by signing them ... and yet here is one that is!
Hand painted Australiana themed: Eucalyptus tree gum nuts and leaves. On the back a genuine, underglaze back stamp recorded from 1980 and an overglaze artist's signature dated 1981.

A most unusual occurance, yet in 2007 Australia's own Bendigo Pottery co-jointly released a collectors' plate collection featuring Australian Christmas Scenes. This leads me to believe that possibly previous to that collection there may have been yet an earlier collaboration between these to notable porcelain companies.

What ever the history behind this real Australian flora celebration we know that it will be an interesting piece in any collection.

NO LONGER AVAILABLE