Antique Japanese Seiji Kaisha Fukagawa Arita Porcelain Plate 8-Sided Kiku Flower
For sale on eBay:
www.ebay.com/usr/xcoasterxtreme
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Type: 8-Sided Plate
Material: Porcelain
Age: 1879-1897 (the span of the Seiji Kaisha company), Meiji Period (1868-1912)
Origin/Maker: Seiji Kaisha, Arita, Japan. Marked with red Seiji Kaisha maker's mark on base
In 1879 Seiji Kaisha or the Pure Water Company, was founded by the original four members of Koransha; Tezuka Kamenosuke, Tsujii Katsuzo, Fukaumi Suminosuke and his brother, Takeji in Arita, who were at one time associated with Koransha or, The Scented Orchid Porcelain Company. The Seiji Kaisha Company with a modern factory produced highly competitive porcelain and dinner wares for the Western market, same as Koransha. The commonly found information that the company should have only been in business for 4 years (1879-1883) has been countered in modern Japanese texts. The company did experience difficulties after Fukaumi's death, and also another member, Tsuji's resignment. The factory was however active for almost two decades or until around 1897, after which the impressed mark on blanks still may have lingered for several years. Seiji Kaisha marks on porcelain occurs at least as late as Meiji 38 (1905).
(https://www.gotheborg.com/marks/fukagawa.shtml)
In 1879, Fukaumi Suminosuke, Tezuka Kinosuke, and Tsuji Katsuzo left the Koransha Company where they were partners with Eizaemon Fukagawa, and joined Tokyo potter Kawahara Chujiro to start the Seiji Kaisha Company. Like the Koransha Company, the Seiji Kaisha Company received commissions to provide porcelain for Imperial court and the Ministry of the imperial Household.
For nearly ten years Seiji Kaisha’s excellent craftsman created porcelain wares that, with the exception of Koransha and Fukagawa, had no serious competitors anywhere. In addition to other accomplishments, a gold medal was awarded to the Seiji Kaisha for a piece that was exhibited in Amsterdam in 1883.
Following the deaths of Kawahara and Tezuka in 1888 and 1889, and the inability to find people who could operate the new machines needed to modernize their production methods, the Seiji Kaisha Company closed in 1897.
This information can be found in Gisela Jahn's book, Meiji Ceramics.
After the company closed, some workers continued to use the Seiji Kaisha mark, as trademark laws had not yet been established. Wares of varying quality were produced and sold with this mark for a number of years. Wares fired and marks in the community kiln were also removed and many people decorated and sold them. The Tsuji family with their own (Tsuji mark) continued making their own high quality wares and they continue today with the 15th Tsuji Hitachi.
(https://modernjapanesepotterymarks.blogspot.com/2014/10/seiji-kaisha-antique-porcelain-of-arita.html)
Size: 8 3/8" across (21.2725 cm)
Weight: 15.5 oz (439 g)
Provenance:
Present: Ryan Snooks collection of Japanese & Asian Decorative Art
Previous: Private Collection
Collected: Antique store, Orcutt, CA, 15 MAR 2026
Condition: Item is used in fair condition commensurate with age, see photos. Some wear to painted design, some scratches, and several small chips around lower rim of plate.
Subject: Antique Japanese Seiji Kaisha marked Arita ware 8-sided porcelain plate with wavy edges with abstract designs of chrysanthemum flowers (kiku) and arabesque style vines (tako karakusa)
Location:
Antique Japanese Seiji Kaisha Fukagawa Arita Porcelain Plate 8-Sided Kiku Flower
www.ebay.com/usr/xcoasterxtreme
See also:
Type: 8-Sided Plate
Material: Porcelain
Age: 1879-1897 (the span of the Seiji Kaisha company), Meiji Period (1868-1912)
Origin/Maker: Seiji Kaisha, Arita, Japan. Marked with red Seiji Kaisha maker's mark on base
In 1879 Seiji Kaisha or the Pure Water Company, was founded by the original four members of Koransha; Tezuka Kamenosuke, Tsujii Katsuzo, Fukaumi Suminosuke and his brother, Takeji in Arita, who were at one time associated with Koransha or, The Scented Orchid Porcelain Company. The Seiji Kaisha Company with a modern factory produced highly competitive porcelain and dinner wares for the Western market, same as Koransha. The commonly found information that the company should have only been in business for 4 years (1879-1883) has been countered in modern Japanese texts. The company did experience difficulties after Fukaumi's death, and also another member, Tsuji's resignment. The factory was however active for almost two decades or until around 1897, after which the impressed mark on blanks still may have lingered for several years. Seiji Kaisha marks on porcelain occurs at least as late as Meiji 38 (1905).
(https://www.gotheborg.com/marks/fukagawa.shtml)
In 1879, Fukaumi Suminosuke, Tezuka Kinosuke, and Tsuji Katsuzo left the Koransha Company where they were partners with Eizaemon Fukagawa, and joined Tokyo potter Kawahara Chujiro to start the Seiji Kaisha Company. Like the Koransha Company, the Seiji Kaisha Company received commissions to provide porcelain for Imperial court and the Ministry of the imperial Household.
For nearly ten years Seiji Kaisha’s excellent craftsman created porcelain wares that, with the exception of Koransha and Fukagawa, had no serious competitors anywhere. In addition to other accomplishments, a gold medal was awarded to the Seiji Kaisha for a piece that was exhibited in Amsterdam in 1883.
Following the deaths of Kawahara and Tezuka in 1888 and 1889, and the inability to find people who could operate the new machines needed to modernize their production methods, the Seiji Kaisha Company closed in 1897.
This information can be found in Gisela Jahn's book, Meiji Ceramics.
After the company closed, some workers continued to use the Seiji Kaisha mark, as trademark laws had not yet been established. Wares of varying quality were produced and sold with this mark for a number of years. Wares fired and marks in the community kiln were also removed and many people decorated and sold them. The Tsuji family with their own (Tsuji mark) continued making their own high quality wares and they continue today with the 15th Tsuji Hitachi.
(https://modernjapanesepotterymarks.blogspot.com/2014/10/seiji-kaisha-antique-porcelain-of-arita.html)
Size: 8 3/8" across (21.2725 cm)
Weight: 15.5 oz (439 g)
Provenance:
Present: Ryan Snooks collection of Japanese & Asian Decorative Art
Previous: Private Collection
Collected: Antique store, Orcutt, CA, 15 MAR 2026
Condition: Item is used in fair condition commensurate with age, see photos. Some wear to painted design, some scratches, and several small chips around lower rim of plate.
Subject: Antique Japanese Seiji Kaisha marked Arita ware 8-sided porcelain plate with wavy edges with abstract designs of chrysanthemum flowers (kiku) and arabesque style vines (tako karakusa)
Location:
Antique Japanese Seiji Kaisha Fukagawa Arita Porcelain Plate 8-Sided Kiku Flower
