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Miija Moto Shoko?
Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 6:29 am
by zilverik
Hi,
This is a pair of bowls on round feet. Probably for rice.
Very good qualty. Weight is 828 gramms (together)
I am not familiar with Japanese signs. Is this Miija Moto Shoko? Around 1920?
Regards,
Zilverik
Re: Miija Moto Shoko?
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:37 pm
by rauls
The 5 chars are "幣局謹製", means "Made by Coin Mint Office Seriously", should be a Japanese Silver item, but I have no idea about the age.
Re: Miija Moto Shoko?
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:41 pm
by rauls
Since the text read from left to right, I think it should be pre-1950. But I couldn't completely ensure they are not newly-made crafts or fakes.
Re: Miija Moto Shoko?
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:43 pm
by rauls
rauls wrote:Since the text read from left to right, I think it should be pre-1950. But I couldn't completely ensure they are not newly-made crafts or fakes.
Sorry a typo, the text reads from right to left as old Chinese and Japanese script did.
Re: Miija Moto Shoko?
Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 7:21 am
by zilverik
Hi rauls,
Thank you very much!
Regards,
Zilverik
Re: Miija Moto Shoko?
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 3:55 pm
by davidross
Rauls is right, the first three characters read "Japanese Mint Bureau." The last two mean "made by," or "fecit" if you prefer (a standard J-E dictionary translates as "a quality product of..."). The writing is of the "archaic" form still used today in official seals in lieu of a signature.
The paulownia flower in the centre of the bowls is the official state seal of the Japanese government, which appears today on the reverse of the 500 yen coin as well as on official government documents and property.
In short, these bowls were some sort of souvenir pieces made and issued by the Japanese Mint, either as gifts from the mint or perhaps offered for sale as part of public tours of the mint. They look to be of well made, as would be expected of the mint.
Regarding the date, these are without much doubt recent, probably 1970s or later. Anything made or issued by the mint prior to WWII would surely mention the Great Japanese Empire, a matter of great national pride, as indeed all Japanese currency did until the postwar reforms of 1947.
As recent pieces, they must have another mark denoting their silver content if they are sterling. There is the odd chance that they are unmarked sterling and that this information was included in a presentation box, but it seems very unlikely to me.
This is only one opinion, of course.
Regards
David