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Teadust Bowls

by Ruud
(The netherlands)

Hi Peter,

I have several bowls and cups and saucers, coloured teadust from the outside and with blue and white design on the inside. Some of them are signed, others are unsigned. Though I was informed that all this should date from the 18th century, it strikes me that some of them indeed look old but some seem rather to be new.
Attached i show two bowls with quite different signatures one of which may even be Japanese.
Could you tell me more about these teadust bowls and the meaning of the signatures? Thanks in advance.

Comments for Teadust Bowls

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Feb 17, 2011
 Batavia ware
by: peter

Ruud,
I'm not sure what you think you could be placed upside down. If it is the bottom with the mark, then no, that is the right side up.

Well the right mark is clearly Japanese, but the left one could theoretically be either Chinese or Japanese, but both bowls seem to be transfer ware and have a similar decoration.
If they are transfer ware, they cannot be Chinese. As far as I know the Chinese started using transfer ware only in the 20th century, much later than the Japanese.

The different marks on the same type of item means nothing. They could have been made at different shops working for the same kiln, or different batches made at different times at the same kiln, whatever. I have no problem with the different marks. That is found on Chinese porcelain too.
Feb 17, 2011
 Bavaria Ware
by: Ruud

Hi Peter,

I think the first character on the right one shows mount Fuji. The left bowl though I am surprised that it is not Chinese. Please note that I may have placed the picture upside down.
Feb 17, 2011
 bowls
by: peter

This looks like transfer ware. Transfer ware is an early type of printing used on porcelain. If it is, then the decoration should have a dotted appearance, showing none of the brush strokes usually visible.

The marks also seem to be Japanese. The first character on the right one could be a pictorial symbol, the second has part missing, but the name could be Mizuno or Murano.
The left on is impossible to write unless you that specific names reading. It is often necessary to ask for the reading of Japanese people's names or place names, because they are written the same but pronounced differently (old and new pronounciation of characters). But, it seems to be a shop or studio name, or similar.

I'm a bit surprised at this. First, I didn't know Japan ever made Batavia ware, then it looks as if they were made after the VOC stopped operating.
Feb 17, 2011
 Batavia Ware
by: Ruud

Thanks for your comment Peter. You are right, i was mistaken, it is Bataviaware.
I placed the photographs on Photobucket as you suggested and hope that the visibility has now increased.You will find them here:

s1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff411/rvwaard/

regards,

Ruud
Feb 17, 2011
 tea bowls
by: peter

Hi Ruud,
These are not teadust bowls; tea refers to green tea. Teadust bowls are usually olive green or brown-green in color.
Your bowls are Batavia ware. They look indeed more Japanese.

Unfortunately, the pictures are a bit small. Could you upload them somewhere on the Internet (e.g. Photobucket, Flickr, etc.), and then post or send the link, please?

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