4 Antique Japanese porcelain Kutani sake cups w poems

4 Antique Japanese hand-painted porcelain Kutani sake footed cups with Haiku poems All 4 cups are hand-painted with similar, but different pictures and Kutani poems Cups have pleasant sound when you gently struck them against each other Height: 2¡± inches = 52 mm Upper diameter: 1.8¡± = 48 mm Weight of one cup: 1 oz. = 30 g Weight of four cups: 5 oz. = 120 g Condition: excellent, no damage, no cracks, clear sound References Kutani ware (¾Å¹ÈŸ† Kutani-yaki?) is a style of Japanese porcelain Got¨­ Saijir¨­, a member of the Maeda clan, set up a kiln in the village of Kutani (now part of the city of Kaga) on the order of Maeda Toshiharu, ruler of the Kaga domain. The porcelain style is known for multiple colors¡ªsuch as greens, blues, yellows, purples, and reds¡ªand bold designs covering most of the surface of each piece History Kutaniyaki was first produced in 1655 in the city of Kaga. The first kiln was set up at the present-day Yamanaka Onsen Kutani in the city, upon discovery of high-quality potter's clay in the area. It was then known as kokutani, with bold-coloured designs characterized by its motifs of birds, flowers, mountains and water. Maeda Toshiharu ordered Got¨­ Saijir¨­ to go to Arita in Saga Prefecture to learn how to make porcelain. Maeda did this to increase his political and personal fortune. Recently, a theory has been put forward that most or all of the Kokutani ware was actually created in Arita rather than just influenced by the ceramics being created there. Kokutani enjoyed popularity for the next few decades until the Kutani suddenly closed down in 1730. The reasons for this closure are debated. Theories put forward include that supplies of the pigments necessary for the glazing were difficult to find, or that there were financial difficulties. This period of production is now referred to as the Old Kutani (¹Å¾Å¹È Kokutani?).

excellent, no damage, no cracks, clear sound