Japanese Cream Jug, c.1860

[Granmaa]

Can anyone read the marks on this mid-19th century Japanese cream jug?

Miles

[davidross]

Hello Miles,

It is Chinese, probably late 19th to early 20th century.

Can you post a cropped photos of the marks?

It looks like the two horizontal marks across the top of the first mark read (right to left) Tientsin 天津, please compare with the object and verify. The maker's mark is below it vertically. The first character of the maker's mark is a bit indistinct, the second is Li (or Lee) 利.

The second mark is a Chinese silver purity mark

The third mark is that of the master, in this case He or Huo 和.

With a better photo, all should be clearer.

Regards
David R

[Granmaa]

Thanks for your answer, David.

Is this photo any better?

Miles

[davidross]

Hi Miles,

Thanks for posting the cropped image. Unfortunately, the marks are no clearer. If you have the object in hand, please consider either drawing the marks or making a rubbing of them.

It would narrow the search considerably if you could ascertain whether the two smaller horizontal characters above the maker's mark do read Tientsin, as I asked in my last post.

If you do not have the object in hand, then the best we can hope for is that someone well versed in Chinese marks will recognize this maker's mark or that a clearer image of the same mark is posted in another query.

Sorry that I cannot be of help beyond this.

DR

[Granmaa]

Thanks for your help, David. Here's a better photo.

Miles

[davidross]

Thank you, Miles, for a better photograph. I believe the marks are as follows.

Horizontally, across the top (written right to left) 天津: Tientsin

Vertically, the retailer: 恒利 Hengli (or Heng Li, or Heng Lee)

One source says a Hengli was active ca 1890. Stylistically, I would say ca 1890-1910 for the cream jug.

Regards,
David R