Japanese Hammered & Engraved Silver Mt. Fuji Dish

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wlwhittier
Posts: 23
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 1:00 am
Location: Port Angeles, Washington

Japanese Hammered & Engraved Silver Mt. Fuji Dish

Post by wlwhittier »

I have no provenance for this dish, other than it being part of Dad's estate.

9-1/2" diameter; ~1" deep; 272gm; it came in an old, stained, broken-lidded box without any mark ; too big to be original, IMHO.
Well and plainly signed on the image, lower right; jungin mark (I hope) very small roughly centered on the back (may be inverted);
No stand or other support. Hammering distinct on rear, which is smooth; looks to be a spherical section.
The inner surface appears finely 'frosted'; toning (and fingerprints) obvious, particularly at rim area; ordinary tarnish on the back.

If there's a process name for the 'frosting' I'd like to know what it is.
The name of the artist, where and when he worked, and/or any other significant details/history will be most welcome!

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davidross
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Re: Japanese Hammered & Engraved Silver Mt. Fuji Dish

Post by davidross »

Signed by Suzuki Mitsuyuki, active ca 1890s to at least 1910. Sometimes worked in enamelled silver.

At least one known coproduction with Unno Shomin (see http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic ... min#p82275 )

Some of Mitsuyuki's silver works were marketed by Tenshodo (see http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic ... odo#p60464 )

Regards,

DR
wlwhittier
Posts: 23
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 1:00 am
Location: Port Angeles, Washington

Re: Japanese Hammered & Engraved Silver Mt. Fuji Dish

Post by wlwhittier »

Again: My sincere thanks, David.

Tenshodo would be/have been a department or jewelry store?

To have such a piece from an artist who was only active for twenty years...over a hundred years ago...seems of particular good fortune.

I wonder how our family came to be in possession of it. No one to ask...they're all gone, sadly.

If only that plate could talk! wlw
davidross
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Posts: 460
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Re: Japanese Hammered & Engraved Silver Mt. Fuji Dish

Post by davidross »

I haven't written that Mitsuyuki was active for only 20 years. The date range I posted represents those dates I have been able to ascertain and should not be taken as restrictive.

Re: Tenshodo. Follow the link in the last post or go to "Contributors' Notes," open up the topic, "The Chinese Export and Far East Trade," and then do a search for "Tenshodo."

Yes, given that Japanese twentieth century history is rather cataclysmic, I suppose it it good fortune that this plate wasn't scooped up and melted down during the gold and silver campaigns of wartime, or evaporated in a firebombing campaign. I would think it to be great good fortune if this plate had been handed down through the same family along with some happy annotation of its acquisition.
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