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Up for sale is a Pair of Late 19th Century Japanese Kutani Taniguchi Porcelain Sake Cups (Meiji Period)! The one pictured on the left measures 1 3/16” tall and 2 1/2” in diameter at the rim. The one pictured on the right measures 1 1/8” tall and 2 1/2” in diameter at the rim. The pair is in excellent overall condition with minor signs of wear consistent with their age and use. Please message us if you have any questions. Thanks!
This is a stunning and authentic matching pair of early 20th century Asian ceramic art, consisting of two Japanese Kutani ware sake cups dating precisely to the late Meiji period between 1900 and 1910. While these small vessels mimic the traditional shape of full-sized Japanese matcha tea bowls, their diminutive size establishes them functionally as premium sake cups, specifically categorized as o-choko or sakazuki. Both sake cups showcase the highly desirable, hand-painted iron-red signature on the base for the renowned Taniguchi workshop (九谷 谷口), a premier studio celebrated internationally for producing luxury export porcelain of the highest order. The exterior exhibits master-class artistry through the painstaking Aochibu technique, featuring thousands of individual, microscopically raised green enamel dots meticulously applied by hand to create a rich texture, seamlessly woven through a brilliant, gilded Karakusa scrolling vine pattern. The interior offers a dramatic aesthetic transition, opening into a breathtakingly dense Kinran-de gold-gilded composition that depicts auspicious flying cranes soaring amidst stylized clouds—a visual design purposefully crafted to shimmer and delight the connoisseur when filled with clear sake—all framed by an intricate border of alternating geometric panels and fine floral cartouches. This masterful juxtaposition of technical precision and classic iconography perfectly encapsulates the apex of Meiji period luxury export art, offering an exceptional acquisition opportunity for the discerning international collector.
