Kutani?

Hi all,
I'm trying to do some research into this set I've been handed and I'm hoping you all might be able to help shed some light.

It seems to be 135 pieces. I don't know if lids count, if so then 138? As you can see from the pictures just about all of them have that stamp that says HAND PAINTED SHOXAN and then KUTAN! or KUTANI? The napkin holders and the chop stick dishes(?) have the other stamp "KUTANI CHINA"

I've seen some posts on here about "cheapTANI" so I'm wondering if that KUTAN! is purposeful and not actually Kutani (which would be about 90% of this set).

The napkin holder and chop stick dish have "九谷" which I found another site that would indicate this would be Meiji period 1868 - 1912 but obviously I understand it's just as easy to paint those characters on. Just odd to me that they have different stamps on them with the same overall picture theme.

Anyway, I'm just hoping anyone might have any information about this set? I can't even find pictures of a similar set online with the grapes and bridge.

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Thanks, ericb123!

Kutani is a Japanese regional style but the Chinese often copy Japanese products. I suspect that's what you have here.

 

Such a pretty set ! I love wisteria. There must be billions of those sets made over the last century .I see them everywhere. I always said if I ever opened a restaurant Id buy tons of this stuff to use as china. Id guess 40s-50s,and most likely sent home to mother by a soldier.

 

Thanks for the info!

 

I agree with Johnny, post WW2 set from Japan. Most surprising feature is there are no broken pieces, these tend to be fragile and incomplete sets abound. Not Meiji and not what is referred to as kutani-ware, that was made earlier. Mix of stamps is not unusual and not a problem. You’ll find more examples if you look for “shozan” instead of “shoxan”