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 Post subject: Pre-war Japanese?
PostPosted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 6:55 am 
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I have had this silver cup for 10 years and have never found out anything about it. I have a book of makers marks but could not find them in it. The workmanship is exceptional in it's detail, i guess it's the reason i have kept hold of it so long. With this post i am including the best photo's i can, please forgive them if they are not adequate. I am suspecting pre-war Japanese, what do you all think?

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 Post subject: Re: Pre-war Japanese?
PostPosted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 6:57 am 
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Image

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Image

Image

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 Post subject: Re: Pre-war Japanese?
PostPosted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 9:38 am 
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Wow, that's really nice. If I had that in my possession I think the temptation to polish it would be too great lol.


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 Post subject: Re: Pre-war Japanese?
PostPosted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 1:48 pm 
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Actually, I believe the KMS is Chinese not Japanese.

KMS stands for Kwong Man Shing, who was making and selling in Hong Kong in the late 19th and early 20th Century. As far as the kanji, it is used in both China and Japan.

The Meiji silver done contemporaneously in Japan usually had a different motif, more, reminiscent of Japanese nature inspired water colors:
Here is an example of Japanese Meiji:
Image

Also, be aware that these turn of the century pieces were fashioned out of solid silver, not sterling. :)
It has also been my experience that polishing the pieces with a product like Wright's Silver Cream, does not decrease value in any way.


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 Post subject: Re: Pre-war Japanese?
PostPosted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 4:45 pm 
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Thank you Barb, mystery solved finally! :D I think i will leave the original patina on thou as i think it gives it character.

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 Post subject: Re: Pre-war Japanese?
PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 10:00 am 
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I agree, patina gives a lot more character to antiques. Also, removing patina might actually decrease the commercial value of the object (for instance, the patina of antique coins should never be cleaned off!)


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 Post subject: Re: Pre-war Japanese?
PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 2:12 pm 
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One has to properly know how to clean silver holloware. Never use a dip!
The purpose is not to remove the patina, but to enhance the relief by highlighting the raised areas.
My Meiji sugar bowl:
Image

Also, the Meiji iris cup I pictured above is properly polished.


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 Post subject: Re: Pre-war Japanese?
PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 3:04 pm 
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That is just stunning!!!!!


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 Post subject: Re: Pre-war Japanese?
PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 7:58 pm 
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Barbra, that sugar bowl is heart-stopping. Little bit jealous of that one... :twisted: :mrgreen:

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