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Pair of tall vases

by Kirk
(North Carolina)

Can you help identify and provide information about these vases? They are 42" tall.
They have been in a closet for 75+ years and are very dirty. How should I clean them?

Comments for Pair of tall vases

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Jun 09, 2011
 Thanks
by: Kirk

Thanks Peter
May 23, 2011
 Japanese vases
by: peter

Hi, your vases are Japanese.
The mark reads:
Hizen, Arita, Fukagawa-sei (Made by Fukagawa, Arita, Hizen)

I cannot tell you about its age, but Arita is a well known old kiln in Japan. Fukagawa is one of the manufacturers related to it. Fukagawa is now a porcelain factory that was founded in the 19th century by the Fukagawa family. They could have made porcelain even before that, but not quite sure about that.

Try dishwasher or soap water and a brush for cleaning. If it doesn't help you could use something stronger. An enzymatic cleaner might help, depending on the type of dirt. Usually, with underglaze blue decorations these usual porcelain cleaning methods should not damage the items, but I would do some testing in an inconspicuous spot first. You should be able to clean the vases the same way as with modern porcelains.

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