Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Japanese Sometsuke Kyusu Teapot to the 19th Century.
Late Meiji Period (c. 1890–1912)
This piece features a distinctively low-slung, squat, and compressed profile—a shape highly favored in traditional Japanese sencha (steeped green tea) culture to allow the tea leaves maximum room to expand evenly across the base.
The shoulder and matching lid are meticulously hand-painted with classic auspicious motifs heavily inspired by Ming dynasty Chinese iconography. It displays elegantly rendered flying cranes (tsuru), a traditional symbol of longevity, interspersed among scrolling foliage, stylized clouds, and ribboned precious objects or treasures (takaramono), including sacred scrolls.
The construction features a hollow, open-ended side handle set at a rigid 90-degree angle from the tapered spout. The underside reveals a flat, unglazed base showing prominent, tight wheel-throwing concentric spirals. Both the gallery rim of the body and the interior lip of the lid are finished with a classic reddish-brown iron wash slip to prevent fusing during firing. The interior of the lid bears an underglaze blue, highly cursive vertical workshop painter’s mark/cipher reading 'Kahasa' (かはさ) / 'Kawasa' (かわさ).
Type: Side-Handled Teapot (Yokode Kyuusu)
Material: Underglaze Blue and White Porcelain (Sometsuke)
Origin: Japan (Likely Seto/Mino or Arita region)
Period: Late Meiji Era (Late 19th / Early 20th Century)
Motifs: Flying Cranes, Precious Scrolls, Sacred Treasures (Takaramono)
Inscriptions: Cursive artisan/workshop mark to the interior of the lid
Dimensions:
Height: 6.0 cm
Base Diameter: 8.5 cm
Condition Report
Overall Condition: Excellent antique condition.
Body & Lid: The original matching lid is present. Structurally sound with no chips, cracks, hairlines, or restorations visible to the rims, spout, or handle.
Glaze & Clay: The underglaze blue remains bright and well-matured. Natural, minor firing imperfections and slight iron spots consistent with regional turn-of-the-century kiln production. Fully functional and stable.
Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Japanese Sometsuke Kyusu Teapot to the 19th Century.
Specialising in antique silver, gold boxes, gold coins and objects de vertu. Rare fine-quality imperial chinese porcelain, jades, cloisonné
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Sandbanks Antiques Profile Page
Antique Japanese Sometsuke Yokode Kyuusu Late Meiji Period (C. 1890–1912)
