DRAGONWARE CHINA TEA SET WITH HALLMARK, SIGNATURES AND A GEISHA GIRL

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Fox
Posted by Fox
16 years ago
AI Appraisal
💬 19 Comments 🗣️ Discuss with Community
Description Hi, I have a tea set consisting of 3 teacups with a dragon emblem on each cup, sugar bowl and creamer (dragon colors from top to bottom are - Red, Gold and Green) and a raised Geisha lithophane that I believe is the “Worried Geisha” at the bottom of each cup with an m shaped signature inside by the rim. Also on the outside of the cups is a large red Chinese mark (looks like maybe another signature). The Sugar Bowl and the Creamer both have the hallmark word “LUCKY” instead of the word “LUCKY CHINA”. I'm hoping this means it was pre-world war II. Here are the particulars for each item: - sugar bowl, 6 oz - height 3 inches, diameter 2.5 inches, handle-spread width 5 inches - creamer, 4.5 oz - height 3 inches, diameter 2.5 inches, handle-spread width 3.5 inches - tea cup, 1.5 oz - height 1.5 inches, top diameter 3 inches, bottom diameter 1.5 inches Photographs include: •The Hallmark “LUCKY” under the creamer and sugar bowl •Inside the tea cup is a raised Geisha Girls head. •A picture from the web of the “Worried Geisha” which I believe to be the same as the raised Geisha in my cups. •A picture of a tea cup with the “m” like signature. •A picture of the 3 tea cups, sugar bowl and creamer Thanks to Theodora Kalfopoulos for the pictures. Anyone's help appraising this 3 pc China set would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, ~Fox [email protected]
Category General Antiques and Collectibles
Medium China
Distinguishing marks DRAGONWARE THE WORD "LUCKY" ON BOTTOM OF CREAMER AND SUGAR BOWL AND A GEISHA GIRL AND OTHER SIGNATURE MARKS
Condition Excellent
Size and dimensions of this item All included information is in the description
Date Period Hoping pre-world war II
Weight unsure at this time
History Mother's Collection
eBay Auction Link
Price Paid (If known) Mother's collection (unsure of price)
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Submitted by Anonymous

These lithophane sets are nearly always Japanese, yours were likely marked with paper or foil labels, common to such pieces. Older Japanese porcelain ( 1891-1921) would be generally marked "Nippon". Trade stopped with Japan during World War Two, similar wares were made both before and after WW2. Values for it are very modest, I suggest you look here: http://tinyurl.com/m9w4re Lovejoy

Submitted by Anonymous

These lithophane sets are nearly always Japanese, yours were likely marked with paper or foil labels, common to such pieces. Older Japanese porcelain ( 1891-1921) would be generally marked "Nippon". Trade stopped with Japan during World War Two, similar wares were made both before and after WW2. Values for it are very modest, I suggest you look here: http://tinyurl.com/m9w4re Lovejoy

" China " in this case is not a country of origin mark and has no bearing on the age of this set. Sets made before and after the War can virtually identical and marked the same way. Those made directly after WW2 were most often marked " Occupied Japan" From 1945-52, but again paper and foil labels were used as well, which were removed after sale or simply fell off. Lovejoy

Hi Lovejoy, Thanks for the "China" info. But I was referring more to the word "LUCKY" in this case. On the internet I thought I saw that the word "LUCKY" by itself could mean it's pre-war. And do you appraisers give appox. prices on items or only info that pertains to the items being requested for appraisal prices? Thanks again, ~Fox

Submitted by Anonymous

HI FOX, YOU HAVE A CAROLENE WEAR TEASET.The giesha apparantly is the artists wife There are 26 poses of the same giesha.Yours looks like the penchant giesha.Although rare, she is rated in the first 9 giesha poses as the 5th most common to find.The first 9 poses are named sad,quizzical,garland,common, pensive,ribboned,wide eyed,simple&simple with garland. The next 8 are rarer to find. They are: serene,private,vulnerable,sweetfaced,chopstick no1, worried, chopstick no 2 and daisy flowers. The last 9 are extremely rare and they are: elaborate,crysanthemum,stylised,anxios,left facing,knowing,downwards gazing,with plaits,lost in thought and double flowers. The prosedure used to make the giesha face in the bottom is called a lithophane. There are also 2 extremeley rare double gieshas. They are called smiling and kissing. I have the same giesha as you in my teaset, she is the penchant giesha, but my teaset looks far different. It is hand painted with the same style dragons but is bright orange and adorned with fired glass beads It is also heavily gilded. They are pre world war 2. There are 4 styles of the china,used with the giesha lithphanes. However my teaset is 3 of the 4 styles. As each set was individually hand crafted, each set is unique. By the way there is 1 set in the entire world with the giesha outline only{It is held under lock and key by the chinese government.} They certainly are little treasures. They sell for varying prices but i have heard of one selling for $3,ooo aud. There is a web site showing the entire collection of poses Idont have the address sorry, but i found it by searching dragonwear giesha lithophanes. cheers Alyson

Hi I also have a teaset, a large attractive teapot and plates and cups and saucers. Inside the cup as i had not noticed before seeing your comment is a geisha girl. Not like the one in the cup here. Is there a picture of all the different ones to compare the face i have? The teaset is black with grey in the middle and a decorative dragon. The girl looks the same but her hair on the top looks like she had a flower in it like a star to the left of her head and her face is similar in stance possibly smiling. Any clues as to which head /face she is would be lovely.

thankyou  Ruth

Hi Alyson, The picture I got was from the internet. I am not exactly sure which Geisha Girl I have, I just thought it looked close. I would love to find a site that has all the pics of the Geisha Girls so I could really be messed up trying to figure out which one I have :) I think I forgot to say how much I appreciated all that info and I am still stumped on the bottom of the two other items (I guess creamer and sugar bowl, even though I did not think the Japanese like sugar and cream in their tea) the word "LUCKY" not Occupied Japan or Japan. Any ideas as you were very knowledgeable the first time around? Thanks, ~Fox

Submitted by Anonymous

  HI

           I have the whole set same as above except one cup is missing,its not for sale but do you roughly how much they go for.

My mum got it for a wedding present 55 years ago if possible can you give me a reply

Regards Jennifer

 

We get a lot of these sets through here,  most were made just before and after WW2. Those made directly after WW2 were most often marked " Occupied Japan" From 1945-52, but again paper and foil labels were used as well, which were removed after sale or simply fell off. Most were made for the export maket and virtually identical sets will have marks from other companies, the pieces being made under contract for the import companies. Valuea re modest , even large sets sell for und $200.00 at auction.

Lovejoy

Submitted by nivea5

I have a set of 6 tea cups and saucers with a display.  The cups have extreme rare Downwards-Gazing gaisha at the bottom.  Unlike others indicated "Nippon", "Lucky" or "Lucky China", the bottom of my saucers indicated Hand Painted "Victora china".  "Victora" is not my typo.  It is Victora china and not Victoria china".  Can someone tell me what I have?  It is geniun and worth something?   Thank you in advance.  

 

MB

I have the tea cup with the 2 naked geisha's in the bottom. I cant find a makers mark anywhere. Any info that can be given would be greatly appreciated.
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