Chop Mark ID

[Tidal Bonsai]

I put these two chop marks on the Facebook bonsai pot ID forum with no response yet. I know both of these pots came from Japan around 30 years ago, but I can't seem to find a matching chop for either of these. I'm guessing the one that is painted on is a production pot.

Any help is appreciated!

 

[rockm]

Might not help at all, but Takashimaya is an old-line upscale Japanese department store. It had a North American flagship store in New York City that was shut down in 2010. I used to go to the NYC store every now and then back in the 90's. It had some spectacular stuff for a lot of $$. I recall they did have a few bonsai pots, but nothing really special, mainly production-level stuff. No hand signed pieces.

 

[kakejiku]

First pic is too small to see details, but top right hand character looks like one and bottom left character looks like 園 En (garden). A lot of the bonsai nurseries in Japan have this character in the name. Shunka-en, Mansai-en etc.
The second character is Above or Upper, but I do not know the context of why it would have that chop...Unless it is a last name, but that would be very uncommon family name as most Japanese last names that have that character would be like 上川 (Kamikawa)　Ｏｒ　上村 (Kamimura) etc.

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

First pic is too small to see details, but top right hand character looks like one and bottom left character looks like 園 En (garden). A lot of the bonsai nurseries in Japan have this character in the name. Shunka-en, Mansai-en etc.
The second character is Above or Upper, but I do not know the context of why it would have that chop...Unless it is a last name, but that would be very uncommon family name as most Japanese last names that have that character would be like 上川 (Kamikawa)　Ｏｒ　上村 (Kamimura) etc.

Thank you for the translation, the first picture was sent to me by a member of my club. The second picture is a pot that I have. Above, or Upper is a weird thing to have on the bottom of a pot, unless it was used for a display of some sort. It's bizarre, because the bottom has a ton of patina and what looks to be glue marks and the inside and outside look almost white! The inside rim also has some sort of build up that looks like old glue. There is a very faded word in English characters that looks like Maolim?

They both came from a descendant of one of the owners of the Takashimaya department store.

It has a gorgeous glaze, and is in a very usable size. The blue looks like a flat color, but it has streaks of lighter and darker blue with a crackle on the rim . I think it's gorgeous!

 

[kakejiku]

Can also mean high as in high quality or high value. Context means a lot, which we don't have enough of to make a good translation.

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

From Michael Ryan Bell

"The stamp is an ink stamp. It’s not the maker. It’s the name of the export/import company that sold them.
Every Japanese character “means” something. They all multiple meanings, only derived through context. It doesn’t mean “above” any more than my name means ?. There are 2 or 3 dozen different Names for just that one character, by itself.

It’s inexpensive Seto ware. 1960s to 1970s. The company exported a ton. I’ve them all over."

 

[kakejiku]

Really that character does not mean above. Maybe not on this pot...but here are some of the meanings of this character.
Maybe you should just go to the pot specialist in the first place...

上 【うえ】 (n,adj-no,n-adv,n-suf) (1) above; up; over; elder (e.g. daughter); (2) top; summit; (3) surface; on; (4) before; previous; (5) superiority; one's superior (i.e. one's elder); (6) on top of that; besides; what's more; (7) upon (further inspection, etc.); based on (and occurring after); (8) matters concerning...; as concerns ...; (9) (as ...上は) since (i.e. "for that reason"); (n-suf) (10) (hon) (See 父上) suffix indicating higher social standing; (11) (arch) place of one's superior (i.e. the throne); (12) (arch) emperor; sovereign; shogun; daimyo; (13) (arch) noblewoman (esp. the wife of a nobleman); (P) [Links]
(1) お席の上の棚の中に入っております。It's in the overhead compartment.[Amend]
(2) この踏台を使えばクローゼットの上に手が届くよ。If you stand on this stool, you can reach the top of the closet.[Amend]
(3) 机の上にペンが何本ありますか。Are there any pens on the desk?[Amend]
(6) 寒かったうえに、風が強かった。It was cold, and, in addition, it was windy.[Amend]
(7) 彼らは合意の上で敏速な行動をとった。They acted immediately by agreement.[Amend]



上 【うわ】 (n,pref) upper; upward; outer; surface; top [Links]



上 【かみ】 (n) (1) (ant: 下・しも .1) upper reaches (of a river); upper stream; (2) top; upper part; upper half (of the body); (3) long ago; (4) beginning; first; (5) (hon) (See 御上・1) person of high rank (e.g. the emperor); (6) government; imperial court; (7) (See 上方・かみがた) imperial capital (i.e. Kyoto); capital region (i.e. Kansai); region (or direction of) the imperial palace; (8) head (of a table); (9) (hon) wife; mistress (of a restaurant); (P) [Links]



上 【じょう】 (n-suf) (1) from the standpoint of; as a matter of (e.g. fact); in the field of; being of the type of; (2) aboard (a ship or vehicle); on top of; on; above; (n) (3) (See 下・げ・2, 上巻) first volume (e.g. book); (n,pref) (4) superior quality; best; top; high class; (5) going up; (6) governmental; imperial; (7) presenting; showing; (pref) (8) ana- (medical, biol.);

 

[M. Frary]

Looks like it's from Honda Suzuki.

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

Looks like it's from Honda Suzuki.

Hahaha!!!