Japanese Silver case help identify mark

[lt714]

Hello,
This is my first time posting. Could someone please help identify the Japanese character mark on this sterling case. It is the mark below where it says sterling. I hope the photo shows it clearly enough. I am not sure if this mark identifies the maker of the piece. Thank you in advance!
LT

[davidross]

Welcome to the Forum.

The retailer is Kuhn and Komor, for more information see the Contributor's Notes, p. 2 of Chinese Export Silver and Far East Trade:

viewtopic.php?f=38&t=24259&p=59389&hilit=kuhn#p59389

This example of Kuhn and Komor's mark would be a good addition to that entry.

The Japanese mark (in Chinese characters) is Kurokawa-sei ("made by Kurokawa"). Please note that Kurokawa is the most likely reading of this family name.

Regards,

David Ross

[lt714]

Thank you David for the info! So would this be considered Japanese or Chinese export silver?

LT

[davidross]

The retailer had shops in, China, Japan, and India.

In this case, the maker's mark is written in the Japanese style.

The provenance of the piece would be most illuminative in determining whether it is definitively CES or JES.

Regards
DR

[rauls]

IMHO, K&K should be treated as JES.