This traditional tea set has exactly five chawan because four is an unlucky number.
This Shoza style Red, Gold, and White scene shows a waterfall, lake, village and shogun castle which wrap completely around each delicately hand made piece.
The Kanji hallmark reads "Kutani Tsukuri", or "Kutani made". Kutani translates as Nine Valleys, and is one of the two famous porcelain making regions on Japan's main island of Honshu.
Only the most accomplished craftsmen were permitted to work with these gaudy enamels and gold brocade, and these wares were made for the exclusive use of the feudal lords (daimyo). The patron daimyo clan of Kutani ware was the Maeda family of Kaga Province (present-day Ishikawa Prefecture), on the west coast of Honshu.
The Shoza style and the Kanji marking date this tea set to
the Late Meiji period, about 1890 - 1900.
All six pieces are in excellent condition with no apparent chips, cracks, crazing or repairs, no missing gilt, excellent detail in the hand-painted decorations, and only slight wear.
