Vintage 1977 Fukagawa Seiji Kurenai Sake Set — 2 Tokkuri & 5 Ochoko, Arita Porcelain

A vintage 1977 sake set by Fukagawa Seiji — the Arita house historically recognized as a supplier to the Japanese Imperial Household since 1910. The "Kurenai" (くれない / 紅) pattern carries five-color autumn maple leaves in the maker's signature Iro-e Saiji overglaze technique. Sold complete with original maker box, brand history pamphlet, original Marushin (Tokushima) retail voucher dated to 1977, and Marushin certification sticker — the full original-retail provenance.

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What's in the set (7 pieces total)

• 2 × tokkuri (徳利) sake bottles — height 13.5 cm (5.3"), base 5 cm (2.0")
• 5 × ochoko (お猪口) sake cups — height 5.5 cm (2.2"), mouth 4 cm (1.6")

One tokkuri carries an additional gold-script painter's signature 「圭史」 (Keishi) on the foot, alongside the standard Fukagawa Seiji Mt. Fuji + flowing-water (富士流水) mark and the maker's stamp 「深川製」. The second tokkuri carries the standard mark only. All five ochoko carry the standard mark.

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The Kurenai (くれない) pattern

"Kurenai" — Japanese for crimson — is Fukagawa Seiji's official name for this autumn maple-leaf pattern. Each leaf is rendered in pointillistic Iro-e Saiji enamel, layered in five colors:

• Vermilion red (紺色) — the late-autumn ripeness
• Cobalt blue (藍) — the receding sky
• Sage green (萌葱) — leaves still in transition
• Gold (金) — caught light, the moment of brilliance
• Soft red lacquer (朱) — the supporting stems and twigs

The leaves cluster on the upper shoulders of each piece in a "drift" composition — the visual logic of leaves carried by autumn wind, settling on a still surface. Gold rims complete each cup and bottle.

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About the maker — Fukagawa Seiji

Fukagawa Seiji (深川製磁) was founded in 1894 in Arita, Saga, by Fukagawa Tadatsugu, a descendant of the six-generation Imari-Arita Fukagawa pottery clan.

• 1900 — Grand Prix (highest gold medal) at the Paris Exposition Universelle for Iro-e Saiji vases
• 1910 — Officially designated by the Japanese Imperial Household Ministry (宮内省御用達（1910 historical record）), with historical documentation through Taishō, Shōwa, Heisei, and Reiwa eras
• Iro-e Saiji — the maker's signature technique developed by Fukagawa Tadatsugu: overglaze enamels fused into the porcelain at high temperature in a single firing; colours integrated into the glaze rather than sitting on top of it

This particular set was retailed in 1977 by Marushin (丸新), a Tokushima department store, for ¥20,000 — a substantial gift-tier price at that time, equivalent in purchasing power to an upper-mid-range department-store gift today. The original Marushin retail voucher is included.

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Provenance (three independent confirmations)

1. Maker mark: Fukagawa Seiji Mt. Fuji + 流水 + 「深川製」 underglaze cobalt mark on every piece
2. Painter's signature: gold-script 「圭史」 on one tokkuri — a Fukagawa workshop painter signature, present on the lead bottle of the pair
3. Original retail receipt: Marushin (丸新, Tokushima) printed retail voucher with original ¥20,000 retail price and Marushin certification sticker — establishes 1977 retail-date provenance

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Dimensions

Tokkuri (sake bottle)

• Height: 13.5 cm (5.3")
• Foot diameter: 5.0 cm (2.0")

Ochoko (sake cup)

• Height: 5.5 cm (2.2")
• Mouth diameter: 4.0 cm (1.6")

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How to use / who it's for

• Autumn dinners, harvest moon (Tsukimi) gatherings, year-end celebrations — the Kurenai pattern is seasonally tied to October–November but reads as warm-tone tableware year-round
• Wedding gift, anniversary gift, or housewarming for collectors of fine Japanese porcelain — particularly anyone with a Fukagawa Seiji or historical Imperial Household designation interest
• A reference example of late-Showa Iro-e Saiji autumn-leaf composition, with documented original-retail provenance — a strong piece for serious collectors of Japanese ceramics history
• For the careful host: the 2-tokkuri configuration lets you serve two sakes side-by-side (e.g., one warm, one chilled, or two contrasting brews)

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Condition

Excellent vintage condition. The set appears unused. All gold rims are intact and unworn. The Iro-e Saiji enamel pattern is bright and complete on every piece. The painter's signature on the lead tokkuri is clean and unsmudged. The original maker box has minor age-related softening at corners, consistent with 1977 storage; the retail voucher is intact and legible.

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Care

• Hand-wash with warm water and a soft cloth or sponge. Avoid abrasive cleaners or nylon scrubbers (they will scratch the gold rim and Iro-e Saiji surface).
• No microwave (gold rim).
• No oven.
• Hand-wash recommended over dishwasher for any signed vintage piece of this age — extended dishwasher cycles will eventually wear the painted enamel.
• Avoid sudden temperature shock when serving warm sake — pre-warm the tokkuri gradually with warm (not hot) water before adding heated sake.

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What you receive

• 2 × Fukagawa Seiji Kurenai tokkuri (one with 「圭史」 painter signature, one with standard mark only)
• 5 × Fukagawa Seiji Kurenai ochoko
• 1 × original Fukagawa Seiji presentation box (0700-190 / くれない 酒器揃)
• 1 × printed Fukagawa Seiji brand history pamphlet (Japanese)
• 1 × original Marushin (丸新, Tokushima) retail voucher dated to 1977 (¥20,000)
• 1 × original Marushin certification sticker
• ZenKiln care card (English translation of key care points)

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About ZenKiln

A Japan-based curator connecting international collectors with Japan's artisan ceramic tradition. We work closely with the kilns, workshops, and makers featured in our shop — each one disclosed in our About section — and hand-pack every piece in Japan for safe delivery worldwide.

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Shipping

Ships from Japan within 1–3 business days, hand-packed inside the original 1977 maker box plus exterior cushioning for international transit. International tracking included. Buyers outside Japan are responsible for any local customs duties or taxes.