Japanese vase - removing old masking tape

I'd guess the vase is reasonably contemporary, maybe mid century, but I want to see the mark that's under the old tape, without actually destroying the tape.
Anyone know what's written on the tape ?
Not knowing "which way is up" I'll post 4 pics of the writing.
Height - 10 " (26cm)
Interior - glossy black

 

include Ritz maybe

 

The first photo is the correct orientation.

I'm not 100% sure, but it could be:
河マ考る = Think about a river

Will probably get a better idea once we can see the marking beneath the tape.

 

I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean.

 

I do not read kanji but I suspected as much, as the other orientations all looked somehow odd.

 

Maybe try a q-tip barely moistened with "Goo Gone" or similar around the perimeter of the tape. That may loosen the tape enough that it could be carefully lifted and preserved. Try to avoid getting the Goo Gone near the letters, as the chemicals may obliterate the writing.

 

Masking tape adhesive is annoyingly insoluble. But you may be able to gently work it off with a thin spatula or scalpel. With any solvent there is the risk of causing the ink to bleed, as Sandra says.

 

I would just take a picture of it and remove it. I don't see how it adds value.

 

It's getting a label remover soak. The adhesive backing of the tape is extremely well bonded to the surface. If that fails the tape gets sacrificed for whatever mark it is so precisely hiding ! Whatever it says I have the photo, as you say, and now I know the correct orientation.

 

Razor blade slowly worked under the tape while it is wet, might work.

 

If it isn't COMPLETELY dried out you can safely remove it intact without resorting to scraping tearing or otherwise butchering it by repeatedly flooding it with benzine, i.e. Ronsonol, lighter fluid. You can also remove adhesive stickers from delicate paper or leather using benzine. It generally evaporates without and residue and if any adhesive remains, it can be gently swabbed off with benzine and a q-tip.

 

That is a great tip to remember !

 

So - no more tape. Underneath the petrified glue was a mark and the word SEYEI.
Looking it up I found lots of fine china tableware but nothing like my vase. The few vases I found were quite different. The attached site can be useful but not in this case, as far as dating goes. I guess that's that. I plan on using it for a plant that grows tall and slim.
http://modernjapanesepotterymarks.blogspot.com/2015/06/seyei-china-porcelain-of-aichi.html

 

You can't leave us hanging like this over the saga of the tape Tom. Were you able to remove it in one intact piece?

 

It was not coming off and I wasn't prepared to devote time to a lengthy surgical procedure. I declared the patient expired.
So off came the paper layer of the tape and then with aggressive scrubbing, using a synthetic woven kitchen scrubber, off came enough of the glue to see what was under. Considering it had soaked since yesterday in label remover I had to work harder than expected.
What I like about the vase is its understatedness, the very slight gradations in colour and the sense of mid-century it gives me. It's also big enough to be home to a sizeable plant without occupying a large footprint. I was simply hoping to narrow down its age and origin.

 

No drainage hole though? Root rot?

 

Years ago I stopped using pots with drain holes, fussing with drainage trays and suffering the sometimes associated drainage tray overflows. I've not had a problem with root rot. I guess I developed a "feel" for not over-watering. I've seen mentioned that's the #1 houseplant killer.