Vintage 7-piece sake set by 深川製磁 Fukagawa Seiji — Arita-yaki kiln, founded Meiji 27 (1894), 宮内庁御用達 Imperial Household Agency purveyor since Meiji 43 (1910). Two tokkuri (sake carafes) + five footed ochoko (sake cups) in Fukagawa's signature ルリブドー Ruri Budō ("Lapis-Blue Grape") pattern: deep ruri (瑠璃) cobalt-blue ground with hand-applied gold maki-e grape-vine branches, turquoise + akae cinnabar grape clusters, gold rim line, and pure-white porcelain interiors. Arrives in original Fukagawa Seiji branded retail box with full-colour brand-history leaflet.
Provenance & attribution
This set carries Tier A attribution for brand, pattern, and Arita origin (Fukagawa Seiji foot mark + original branded box + product code 0700-861 + accompanying brand-history leaflet, all photo-verified). Production year is Tier B: vintage Showa to Heisei period (1980s–2000s), based on the barcode-era retail code and modern leaflet format — the Meiji 27 (1894) date printed in the leaflet refers to Fukagawa Seiji's founding year, not this set's production date.
Quick facts
| Form |
Sake set — 2 tokkuri + 5 footed ochoko (7 pieces) |
| Each tokkuri |
13.0 cm height × 4.8 cm base × 2.8 cm mouth (≈5.1″ × 1.9″ × 1.1″); 135 g (≈4.8 oz) |
| Each ochoko |
5.7 cm rim diameter (≈2.2″); 25 g (≈0.9 oz) |
| Set weight |
≈ 395 g (≈14 oz) total (ware only) |
| Capacity |
To be measured by water-fill test before dispatch |
| Material |
Porcelain (Arita) — ruri lapis glaze exterior, white interior, gold maki-e + akae + turquoise enamel |
| Foot mark |
富士山 + 深川製 (Fukagawa Sei) in underglaze cobalt |
| Pattern |
ルリブドー Ruri Budō ("Lapis-Blue Grape") — Fukagawa "Porcelain Treasure Stone" lapis lineage |
| Period |
Vintage Showa to Heisei (1980s–2000s) |
| Brand heritage |
Founded Meiji 27 (1894); 宮内庁御用達 since Meiji 43 (1910) |
| Product code |
0700-861 (Fukagawa Seiji retail catalogue) |
| Box |
Original Fukagawa Seiji branded retail box |
| Accessories |
Original full-colour Fukagawa brand-history leaflet |
| Inventory |
One-of-one — vintage; no restock |
| Curated by |
ZenKiln from a Japanese antique dealer |
What is Ruri Budō?
Ruri Budō (ルリブドー — "Lapis-Blue Grape") is one of Fukagawa Seiji's most recognised pattern lines. The ruri (瑠璃) base is the workshop's signature high-fired cobalt glaze — described in the brand's own literature as 磁器の宝石 ("the porcelain treasure stone"). The grape-vine motif is hand-applied in gold maki-e with overglaze enamel grape clusters in turquoise and akae cinnabar — a confident Imperial-purveyor design language.
Condition
Light vintage patina consistent with careful Japanese storage. No major chips or losses visible from supplied photos. A close-up condition pass will be added before publish.
FAQ
What is a tokkuri and an ochoko? A tokkuri (徳利) is a Japanese sake carafe — the narrow-necked bottle that the sake is warmed and poured from. An ochoko (お猪口) is a small footed sake cup. A 7-piece set with 2 tokkuri and 5 ochoko is the classical "host's set" — both sake hosts pour for a small group.
Is it microwave or dishwasher safe? Absolutely not. The gold maki-e lines and the turquoise + akae overglaze enamels will be damaged by either. Hand-wash only with mild soap in lukewarm water; rinse and pat dry with a soft cotton cloth.
Is the gold pattern original? Yes. The gold lines are hand-applied gold maki-e on the original ruri-blue ground. Light wear of the gold over decades of use is normal and expected on vintage Fukagawa pieces and is consistent with authentic age rather than a manufacturing defect.
What is 宮内庁御用達? 宮内庁御用達 (Kunaichō Goyōtatsu) is the formal designation "purveyor to the Imperial Household Agency" — a status Fukagawa Seiji has held since Meiji 43 (1910). The leaflet that arrives with this set confirms this status.
What about the Meiji 27 date in the leaflet? Meiji 27 (1894) is Fukagawa Seiji's founding year — the year 深川忠次 established the workshop. It is part of the brand's 130+ year heritage but is not the production date of this specific set. The set itself is a vintage Showa-to-Heisei commercial production (broadly 1980s–2000s).
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.
📦 Ships from Japan, hand-packed for safe delivery. Antique pieces are wrapped in their original branded box, then double-boxed with archival-grade cushioning. Insurance recommended; included by default on orders over $250.
