Pottery Tea Set

Studio pieces? US or foreign?
Thanks

 

Given it has five cups, I suspect Chinese or Japanese. It's considered auspicious to have sets of five.

 

Wow bear, just learned sumptin today, I wondered why some sets were uneven?

 

Thanks for the suggestions. Never knew about the number 5 either.
If I have to choose I would go with Japanese because of the finish.
By the way, there is no strain holes at the spout. Could it be for something else but tea?

 

Not questioning the origin, but isn't it possible that there were 6 cups and one broke? I see a lot of odd sets (just short one) at my local thrift.

Either way, I find this little group is quite attractive. Hope it is complete.

 

The glaze and shape look Asian as well, indeed. (Yes, that dreaded one broken thing can apply, but I think not in this case. )

I found out about the five thing when I asked a Chinese friend why so many boxed teasets, sake sets and so forth were in that configuration.

This might be rice wine.

 

The traditional sake pots are usually with different shape and handles. Now when I think again, I don't think it is very common to see ground bases on Japanese pottery.

 

Google on Japanese teapot set. You'll find lots of similar ones. I am distinguishing, by the way, between warm sake and plain old rice wine.

 

I'd say Japanese too. They don't do sets of four for domestic sale; four is considered bad luck. The character is close to the one for death, and they're not too fond of it for obvious reasons. It would kind of be like a US maker doing something as a set of thirteen.

 

Never knew this before! Conversely, a person from China gives two of something, as to give but one is rude.

 

Hi,
But to Asians the number 8 is very lucky. My old realtor when he was dealing with Asians he would drop the price of a house i.e. $559,900. to $558,888. I guess it is like us when something is 99¢ it seems less than a dollar. I remember "Little Golden Books" were 25¢ the year they raised the price to 29¢ they sold three times as many. So I guess we are fasinated with 9.
greg