Pair Of Japanese Kutani Vases, 19th Century

Pair of Japanese Kutani Vases, 19th CenturyOne vase is in very good condition, the second has a small damage to the top.Kutani ware is one of the major styles of Japanese ceramics, taking its name from the village where the original kiln was built. Originating in Ishikawa Prefecture, its name means "Nine Valleys" and its history dates back to the mid-17th century. The original Kutani ware, now called Ko-Kutani, is very different from the 19th-century export examples that are now the best known. It is important to remember that Kutani is a region, not a specific factory; many workshops used the Kutani mark.Kutani ware production peaked in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, following the opening of Japan to Western trade. It is generally made of porcelain rather than earthenware, and red and black iron lines often dominate the color palette. This style, called Shoza, is the one you are most likely to see today. Marks are most often hand-painted and may or may not include the artist's or maker's name. Printed and incised marks are rarer. Unmarked pieces, or simply marked Kutani, are very common. Low-quality printed marks usually indicate interwar or postwar production. Generic marks include: