Japan Art and Items

CalixBooks

後輩

10 May 2022

22

35

• 10 May 2022

• #1

Hello all, I'm from Massachusetts and our part of the world has always had strong trade with Japan and China. I found this and cannot for the life of me, translate it. If someone could

tell me what it says that would be great. It is on the lid of a very old iron tea pot (for boiling the water, not making tea). Cheers! Richard

 

CalixBooks

後輩

10 May 2022

22

35

• 10 May 2022

• Thread starter
• #2

Hello all, am I even showing the image in the right direction??? Thanks all, Richard

 

Majestic

先輩

Ten-year veteran

12 Oct 2013

4,071

5,023

• 10 May 2022

• #3

Hello Richard,
It is upside down. It says 龍文堂造之 (Ryūmondō tsukuru kure), which means "made by Ryūmon-dō".

 

CalixBooks

後輩

10 May 2022

22

35

• 10 May 2022

• Thread starter
• #4

Majestic said:

Hello Richard,
It is upside down. It says 龍文堂造之 (Ryūmondō tsukuru kure), which means "made by Ryūmon-dō".

Click to expand...

Majestic! Thank you! It's a really handsome tetsubin with flying bats and other images. I have just found the 'iron' teapots for boiling water for the Japanese tea ceremony, not the iron teapots with the infusers with the ceramic lining...Amazing art work! Thanks again! Cheers, Richard

 

Grandpa Frank

Sempai

Admin

Twenty-year veteran

21 May 2003

14,310

4,404

• 11 May 2022

• #5

I figured it was Chinese scribbles , didn't realize it was upside down.

 

CalixBooks

後輩

10 May 2022

22

35

• 11 May 2022

• Thread starter
• #6

Here are some photos.



See the bats! On the bronze lid and flying around on the side. So cool!

 

Grandpa Frank

Sempai

Admin

Twenty-year veteran

21 May 2003

14,310

4,404

• 11 May 2022

• #7

I guess in the old days , bats were considered a good luck symbol for Japanese. That is a really beautiful piece.

 

CalixBooks

後輩

10 May 2022

22

35

• 11 May 2022

• Thread starter
• #8

Thanks, I found it here in Massachusetts. Not selling it until I know more about their history and how they were made. The little top spins around and makes a bit of noise when you spin it. Love the bat gif. Cheers

 

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Moderator

Fifteen-year veteran

22 Feb 2008

18,266

4,926

• 11 May 2022

• #9

Here's examples of Ryūmondō works.

「刻印 あり 龍文 堂 刻印」の検索結果 - Yahoo!検索（画像）

Yahoo!検索による「刻印 あり 龍文 堂 刻印」の画像検索結果です。

search.yahoo.co.jp

The last symbol of the inscription might be kaō of an artist of Ryūmondō. If it's made by the original manufacturer in Kyoto, there is another inscription also on the body of the kettle. Incidentally, there seems to be many fakes.

龍文堂の作品には、蓋の裏に銘が刻まれていることが多く、共箱が失われている場合の見極めの一つとなります。龍文堂の職人（作家）の個人銘印が入っていることもあります。

https://www.recyclemart.jp/shop/anjou/result/art-object/-1499g.html

京都本家の鉄瓶には、蓋だけでなく鉄瓶本体の腰にも「龍文堂」の銘が入っています。

ミニ企画展　「鉄瓶　～実用の美～」　（４） - 豊富郷土資料館のブログ

関西の鉄瓶昭和初期の国内の鉄瓶生産は、岩手と大阪が二分していました。...

toyokyoudos.cocolog-nifty.com

「龍文堂」の鉄瓶の名声は、明治・大正・昭和初期にわたり日本中に伝わるようになるが、蓋の裏に「龍文堂」と名前だけを彫った贋作が数多く世間に出回ることとなりました。

https://www.yuutonasu.co.jp/products/takaokadouki/ryubundo_utsushi/

 

CalixBooks

後輩

10 May 2022

22

35

• 11 May 2022

• Thread starter
• #10

Toritoribe, great links! Once google translated this is very helpful. Thank you. The kettle does not have any marks on its body but the link to the lid, bats, confirms for me at least that the lid and the body belong together. The interior of the kettle has never been cleaned and has deposits from the water that was repeatedly boiled, perhaps many, many times of tea water boiling.