Japan Marks - Imura & Imura Hikojiro |
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IMURA (井村) IMURA HIKOJIRO (井村彦次郎) IMURA TOKI KAISHA (IMURA POTTERY CO.) (井村陶器画会社) KYOTO TOKI KAISHA (KYOTO POTTERY CO.) (京都陶器画会社) MATSUISHIYA (var. MATSU-ISHI-YA) (松石屋) |
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| Circa 1876 - 1912 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Imura Hikojiro vases |
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Imura Hikojiro was one of the largest ceramic manufacturers and
exporters in Kyoto. Hikojiro Imura's factory in 1887 was known as the Kyoto Toki Kaisha and also called the Imura Toki Kaisha. He was known to make porcelain wares in European shapes and hand painted in European styles during the Meiji era to Taisho era. He also made Japonism style wares. By 1881, he had a shop called Matsuishiya (Matsu-ishi-ya, see advertisement) located in Honcho-dori, Yokohama that sold his own fine porcelain wares and wares made by other artisians in Japan. Based on information from the Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History, there were some noted artists whose wares were sold by Imura Hikojiro. Wares were found with containing two signatures: those of Imura and the other signature belonging to an artist who made the ware. Some of the artists were - Yamamoto Shoun (山本祥雲), Kawamoto Masukichi 1st (初代 川本桝吉) also known as Kawamoto Hansuke 5th (5代 川本半助), Kato Zenji 3rd (三代 加藤善治), Nishikiryu (Inken or Noki) Ichiu (錦竜軒市宇), and Shun (Takashi or Satsuki) (春皋). Some of his porcelain wares are incised with the kanji characters (京都陶器画会社) "Kyoto Toki Kaisha" (Kyoto Pottery Co.) along with a trademark kamon in the shape of a three point star. |
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 TRADEMARK OF KYOTO TOKI KAISHA |
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 1890 Advertisement for Matsu-ishi-ya, Porcelain Manufacturer. Every Description Of Goods Made To Order. A Specialty of Porcelain Painted in Tokio. Satsuman, Kioto, Owari and Kaga Porcelain, at the Lowest Prices. Enameled Porcelain. French Porcelain Painted By Japanese In The Best Style. No. 22, Honcho-dori ni-chome, Yokohama. |
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| Imura was the first manufacturer to industrialize the ceramic trade in Japan. In an article, The Industrial Revolution in Pottery in Japan written by Yasuo Mishima, Mishima wrote "in 1888 the Kyoto Toki Kaisha (Kyoto Pottery Co) took the initiative in importing a set of modern machines from France in an energetic attempt to set up the first mechanized factory in Japan." According to Jahn Gisela in his book Meiji Ceramics, the equipment was purchased from Limoges. The mechanized equipment was to expand Imura's growing ceramic business started during the early Meiji period and was noted in producing foreign European shaped porcelain in 1881. Based on the description of his porcelain wares and their dating, his wares fall into the category called Nippon Porcelain. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 circa 1890 Porcelain Painting House Belonging to Matsuishiya of Hikojiro Imura |
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The blank porcelain wares were made in his factory the Kyoto Toki Kaisha
and hand painted by decorators. The Imura trade mark signature is found on different types of wares: Satsuma style on faience earthenware, Kyoto porcelain ware, Owari porcelain ware, eggshell porcelain dainty ware, Kaga Kutani style decorated ware, and Seiji Celadon glaze ware. Sometimes his wares are mistakenly noted as Kutani. Imura sold wares made by other noted pottery-porcelain artists through his shop and exported goods abroad. These wares have two trade mark signatures. There is a vase displayed at the Aichi Prefecture Museum with two signatures showing: Dai Nihon Yokohama, Imura sei and the other signature of by the noted artist Kawamoto Masukichi of Seto. Link to vase http://www.pref.aichi.jp/touji/004_collection/10/collection/04.html |
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Imura Hikojiro exhibited his porcelain wares
at International Expositions: 1883 Foreign Exhibition Association in Boston. 1893 Columbian Expo (Chicago World's Fair). 1904 International Exhibition (St. Louis World's Fair). |
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 Trade Card of Matsu-ishi-ya. Porcelain Store. No. 22, Honcho Dori, Yokohama, Japan. N.B. In addition to supplying our own line of goods, we are prepared to act as Commission Merchants for the purchase of any article in Japan. All orders executed carefully for a small commission. Goods packed and delivery guaranteed. |
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 1895 Advertisement PACKING GUARANTEED. MATSU-ISHI-YA, PORCELAIN STORE No. 22, Honcho Niohome, Yokohama, ONE PRICE ONLY. |
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The signatures of the Matsuishiya (Imura) sometimes include the port name, Yokohama,
from where his goods were shipped internationally for the foreign trade
market. Some signatures include a crisscross 
diamond igeta trademark (see trade card and
signatures). |
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 SIGNATURE TRADEMARK OF IMURA , MATSUISHIYA |
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SIGNATURES OF IMURA,
MATSUISHIYA Circa 1876-1912 |
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References: A handbook for travellers in central & northern Japan, Sir Ernest Mason Satow, A. G. S. Hawes, 1881 - Yokohama - Japanese Curio Dealer - Matsu-ishi-ya, porcelain in foreign shapes, No. 22, Hon-cho-dori. Official Catalogue Foreign Exhibition Association in Boston, 1883 - Nagoya, Porcelain - H. (Hichojiro) Imura, Yokohama: Exhibit #464. Tea-sets with 12 cups and saucers. Exhibit #465. Bowls, jars, plates, flower vases. Exhibit #466. Censers, coffee-cups. Jinrikisha days in Japan, ELIZA RUHAMAH SCIDMORE, 1891 - The Japanese section of Yokohama is naturally less Japanese than places more remote from foreign influence, but the stranger discovers much that is odd, unique, and Oriental. That delight of the shopper, Honchodori, with its fine curio and silk shops, is almost without a shop-window, the entire front of the cheaper shops being open to the streets. But the old lacquer and bronzes, ivory, porcelains, enamels, silver, and silks of Chojiro, Matsuishiya, Musashiya, Shieno, Shobey, and Kinuya are concealed by high wooden screens and walls. General view of commerce & industry in the empire of Japan, Japan. Nōshōmushō. Shōkōkyoku, 1893 - Commercial Name - Matsuishiya. Name of Principal Person or Owner - Imura Hikojiro. Business Place - No. 22, 2 chome, Honcho, Yokohama. Dealing Articles - Porcelain & etc. Columbian Exposition (Chicago World's Fair) in 1893 - Exhibit #437. Hikojiro Imura, Kanagawa, Porcelain. A handbook for travellers in Japan, Basil Hall Chamberlain, W. B. Mason, 1894 - Yokohama - Japanese Curio Dealers - Matsuishi-ya, in Honcho-dori, porcelain in European shapes. A handbook for travellers in Japan, Basil Hall Chamberlain, W. B. Mason, 1899 - Yokohama - Japanese Curio Dealers — Matsuishi-ya, in Honcho-dori, porcelain in European shapes. Booklet of the The Tale of Forty Seven Ronin offered for presentation only upon purchase of porcelain ware by MATSU-ISHI-YA (shop) with Porcelain Plaques, Dinner, Breakfast, Tea, and Toilet Sets, Punch Bowls, Vases, and Decorative Pieces of Infinite Beauty and Variety, on View and for Sale. Matsuishiya, No. 22 Honcho-dori Nichome, Yokohama, no date (about 1900). The exhibition of the Empire of Japan, official catalogue and Handbook of Japan and Japanese exhibits at World's fair, St. Louis, 1904, Hajime Hoshi - Exhibit #16. Imura, Hikojiro, Honcho, Yokohama - Flower Vases, Tablets, Tea Sets, Tea Pots. Handbook of information, Nihon Yūsen Kabushiki Kaisha, 1904 - DEALERS IN WORKS OF APPLIED ART, PORCELAIN AND FAIENCE - Matsuishi-ya (No. 22 Honcho). |
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