six gold cups hand painted by well-known artist
gift from nephew/ government executive
Dear john,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry. So that I may best assist you, can you please upload a better photograph of the blue mark on the bottom of the cups. Also, you say these were painted by a well-known artist but I do not see an artist signature or cypher. Can you please elaborate on who painted these?
Thanks
Painted by Hakuko Ono(1925-1996) who was only one of a handful of Japanese women potters to win the prestigious Japan Ceramic Society Prize, that was in 1980.
This was due to her mastery of a technique that dates back to Sung dynasty China but was used mainly in the Chia Ching era(1522-66) of the Ming dynasty.
She became enthralled with the style after seeing the work of Living National Treasure Hajime Kato(1900-1968) in 1964. The technique involves using
cut gold foil pieces to create a design on a porcelain body; it's an extremely difficult technique to master.
The kiribako reads Kinrande sencha chawan gokaku 金襴手煎茶茶碗五客 (5 [?] Kinrande sencha teabowls) Its about the tea ceremony whom is very important in Japan and also China.
Modern Japanese Arita ware. Red and gold. Unclear signed. Made after 1950. Made in the area around the town of Arita, in the former Hizen Province, northwestern Kyūshū island. Also known as Hizen ware.
These are original tea bowls coming in traditional wooden chest. I cannot translate text on the chest but most of them are referring to the origin and wish good luck to the owner.