Author Topic: Chocolate or Coffee pot?  (Read 1490 times)

ssf2

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Chocolate or Coffee pot?
« on: July 31, 2016, 10:42:13 am »
I have a pot and 4 cups and saucers that I would like an opinion on. When I purchased it it was marked as a chocolate pot, but could it be a coffee pot and how do you tell the difference? The pot is about 9 inches tall with the lid, the cup is about 2.75 inches tall.

Also, did Japanese makers mark seconds in some way? The pot underside has an uneven edge to the glaze. (tried to get a photo of it but it is not visible in any of my photos.) There are also flaws in the decorations such as random tiny spots of the gold, or a stray mark. It does show use-related wear as some of the gold on the top of the handle is worn and some of the gold on the center saucer rings are as well, but the marks all appear to be under the glaze. If you look closely at the 3rd photo you can see a faint grayish mark.

The backstamp is Morimura, so that should date it 1911-1921, is that correct? All the backstamps are imperfect. I thought perhaps that would have been their way of designating a second such as other makers scratch their marks or add some 'stray' marks near the backstamp?

It is also hard to tell if the backstamp is under the glaze or not, as the marks feel just slightly rough. So maybe the mark was added later and this is not really Morimura and that is why the backstamps are not intact?

KC

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Re: Chocolate or Coffee pot?
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2016, 02:16:13 pm »
Chocolate pot.

A chocolate pot spout originates at the top of the pot.  You will find some from different countries that are at the bottom but they are usually graceful and flowing/curving whereas coffee pot spouts are straight and originate at the bottom.  Tea pots are shorter and the spouts typically start mid pot and may have screens built in.
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ssf2

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Re: Chocolate or Coffee pot?
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2016, 02:27:15 pm »
Thank you so much! Definitely a chocolate pot, then.
I have learned so much from everyone on this site. I am very grateful. Web searches sometimes give so much conflicting information that I just get more confused.

mart

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Re: Chocolate or Coffee pot?
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2016, 03:00:05 pm »
Irregularities in the pattern are not uncommon !!  Remember these were imports and were sometimes done in a hurry !!  Most of the artists and decorators were paid by the piece !!

rulesoferick

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Re: Chocolate or Coffee pot?
« Reply #4 on: August 04, 2016, 12:02:50 pm »
Chocolate pot.

A chocolate pot spout originates at the top of the pot.  You will find some from different countries that are at the bottom but they are usually graceful and flowing/curving whereas coffee pot spouts are straight and originate at the bottom.  Tea pots are shorter and the spouts typically start mid pot and may have screens built in.

100% agree!