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Old teaset

Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2025 9:02 am
by Lilac1
Good afternoon
I am here hoping that some expert can give me some information on a supposedly Japanese teaset that was purchased in Etiopia by my grandfather in the 1930s. It now consists of nine cups and saucers, a teapot and a sugar pot. The milk pot and 3 of the cups were broken years ago. I would be grateful if I could get information on origin, date, kind of ceramic and approximate value. There are some marks under the items but I wasn't able to attach more than 2 photos in the mail.
Thanks in advance
Lucia

Old teapot

Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2025 9:09 am
by Lilac1
I am sending pics i was not able to attach in the previous mail

Re: Old teaset

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 5:06 am
by Bok
Looks more like imitation Japanese/Chinese ware to me, made in the middle east or elsewhere.

Re: Old teaset

Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2025 5:23 am
by umami
Haven't had too much experience with these but given the motifs and how the gold is used I'd agree with Bok and say this isn't Japanese.

Re: Old teaset

Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2025 5:44 am
by Bok
Also the characters do not look like written by a native, looks like copied from someone not familiar with Chinese characters... decorations are a similar story.

Re: Old teaset

Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2025 10:25 am
by .m.
Similar tea sets are relatively common in Europe. They are not worth much beyond the sentimental value. The cups and saucers are eggshell thin and get broken easily. While the style looks like it was made for Europe and conveys a sense of oriental exoticism, I wouldn't rule out Japan or China as the actual place of origin. Both could produce translucent porcelain and do it cheaply too, especially Japan which was industrialized and was happily trading with the west. Overglaze decorations were often applied somewhere else than where the porcelain was produced.

Re: Old teaset

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2025 8:31 am
by Lilac1
Thanks everybody for your answers. I thought the tea set might be Japanese and original end 19th century or beginning 20th century because I ve seen what it seems to me a similar one on sale on an online auction house at the price of 1800 euros. I am sending the link. I would be grateful to learn your opinion. https://www.demunariantiquariato.com/ar ... ccheriera/ thanks for your kind comments.