{"product_id":"vintage-fukagawa-seiji-kurenai-sake-set-1977","title":"Vintage 1977 Fukagawa Seiji Kurenai Sake Set — 2 Tokkuri \u0026 5 Ochoko, Arita Porcelain","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA 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.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat's in the set (7 pieces total)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2 × tokkuri (徳利)\u003c\/strong\u003e sake bottles — height 13.5 cm (5.3\"), base 5 cm (2.0\")\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e5 × ochoko (お猪口)\u003c\/strong\u003e sake cups — height 5.5 cm (2.2\"), mouth 4 cm (1.6\")\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Kurenai (くれない) pattern\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"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:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVermilion red (紺色) — the late-autumn ripeness\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCobalt blue (藍) — the receding sky\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSage green (萌葱) — leaves still in transition\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGold (金) — caught light, the moment of brilliance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSoft red lacquer (朱) — the supporting stems and twigs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the maker — Fukagawa Seiji\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFukagawa 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1900\u003c\/strong\u003e — Grand Prix (highest gold medal) at the Paris Exposition Universelle for Iro-e Saiji vases\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1910\u003c\/strong\u003e — 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\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIro-e Saiji\u003c\/strong\u003e — 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\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis particular set was retailed in 1977 by \u003cstrong\u003eMarushin (丸新)\u003c\/strong\u003e, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eProvenance (three independent confirmations)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaker mark\u003c\/strong\u003e: Fukagawa Seiji Mt. Fuji + 流水 + 「深川製」 underglaze cobalt mark on every piece\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePainter's signature\u003c\/strong\u003e: gold-script 「圭史」 on one tokkuri — a Fukagawa workshop painter signature, present on the lead bottle of the pair\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOriginal retail receipt\u003c\/strong\u003e: Marushin (丸新, Tokushima) printed retail voucher with original ¥20,000 retail price and Marushin certification sticker — establishes 1977 retail-date provenance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDimensions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTokkuri (sake bottle)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeight: 13.5 cm (5.3\")\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFoot diameter: 5.0 cm (2.0\")\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOchoko (sake cup)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeight: 5.5 cm (2.2\")\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMouth diameter: 4.0 cm (1.6\")\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow to use \/ who it's for\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAutumn 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\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWedding gift, anniversary gift, or housewarming for collectors of fine Japanese porcelain — particularly anyone with a Fukagawa Seiji or historical Imperial Household designation interest\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA 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\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFor 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)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCondition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExcellent 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCare\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHand-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).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo microwave (gold rim).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo oven.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHand-wash recommended over dishwasher for any signed vintage piece of this age — extended dishwasher cycles will eventually wear the painted enamel.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAvoid sudden temperature shock when serving warm sake — pre-warm the tokkuri gradually with warm (not hot) water before adding heated sake.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat you receive\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2 × Fukagawa Seiji Kurenai tokkuri (one with 「圭史」 painter signature, one with standard mark only)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e5 × Fukagawa Seiji Kurenai ochoko\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 × original Fukagawa Seiji presentation box (0700-190 \/ くれない 酒器揃)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 × printed Fukagawa Seiji brand history pamphlet (Japanese)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 × original Marushin (丸新, Tokushima) retail voucher dated to 1977 (¥20,000)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 × original Marushin certification sticker\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZenKiln care card (English translation of key care points)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout ZenKiln\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eShipping\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShips 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ZenKiln","offers":[{"title":"Default","offer_id":47643485896934,"sku":"SAK-ARI-SHL-00003","price":381.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0779\/5392\/5350\/files\/6a0f48436f03bf48e8c7f28f9f150b4c_55abe1d1-9c3a-48a6-98fc-b6e44b182f57.png?v=1780209082","url":"https:\/\/zen-kiln.com\/en-au\/products\/vintage-fukagawa-seiji-kurenai-sake-set-1977","provider":"ZenKiln","version":"1.0","type":"link"}