How do I identify Japanese Kutani pottery?

Japanese Kutani pottery is typically recognised by its bold palette, heavily featuring iron-red, green, and gold leaf applied over a ceramic body. These pieces often depict detailed figural scenes, birds, and flowers in distinct regional styles dating from the nineteenth century onward.

What is tin-glazed earthenware?

Tin-glazed earthenware is pottery covered with a glaze containing tin oxide, which fires to an opaque white surface. This technique provided potters with a smooth canvas for hand-painted pigments, common in European delftware and majolica production.

How were perfume and scent bottles displayed?

Perfume and scent bottles were kept on dressing tables, inside fitted boxes, or carried on the person as luxury accessories. Many featured hand-painted floral motifs on porcelain or glass bodies, frequently paired with fitted silver or gilt metal caps.