Japan Art and Items

[CalixBooks]

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]

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

 

[Majestic]

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

 

[CalixBooks]

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

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]

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

 

[CalixBooks]

Here are some photos.

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

 

[Grandpa Frank]

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

 

[CalixBooks]

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]

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]

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.