Eshinto Company, 1980s–1990s
Japanese Vintage Stem Cup “Merchant”, 125 ml
This remarkable high-stemmed cup is a fascinating example of Japanese Arita porcelain (Arita-yaki). It is part of the renowned Seika line (青花), produced by Eshinto (エシンタ / しん窯 — Shingama kiln) in Saga Prefecture. This piece was crafted in the late Showa or early Heisei period (approximately the 1980s–1990s). Porcelain from this brand is celebrated throughout Japan for its distinctive, charmingly naive, and whimsical illustrations set against crisp white, durable porcelain.
The cup depicts an Ijin (異人) — a Dutch merchant wearing characteristic 17th–18th-century European attire and a hat. Japanese artisans were so intrigued by the foreigners' appearance that depictions of “Dutchmen and their ships” evolved into a classic motif in Arita porcelain. The Seika brand reinterpreted this historical theme in a warm, modern, and playful style that is cherished by collectors worldwide.
This stemmed shape is known as a Bahai (馬杯 / ばはい) or Bajōhai (馬上杯), which literally translates to “horseback drinking cup”. These cups have traditionally been used for three primary purposes: serving traditional spirits (Sake), presenting desserts and small appetizers (Kobachi), and enjoying special varieties of tea.
Specifications
- Category
- Teaware
- Type
- Cups
- Material
- Porcelain
- Volume
- 125 ml
- Producer
- Eshinto Company
- Origin
- Japan / Saga
- Packaging
- Basic
Description
This remarkable high-stemmed cup is a fascinating example of Japanese Arita porcelain (Arita-yaki). It is part of the renowned Seika line (青花), produced by Eshinto (エシンタ / しん窯 — Shingama kiln) in Saga Prefecture. This piece was crafted in the late Showa or early Heisei period (approximately the 1980s–1990s). Porcelain from this brand is celebrated throughout Japan for its distinctive, charmingly naive, and whimsical illustrations set against crisp white, durable porcelain.
The cup depicts an Ijin (異人) — a Dutch merchant wearing characteristic 17th–18th-century European attire and a hat. Japanese artisans were so intrigued by the foreigners' appearance that depictions of “Dutchmen and their ships” evolved into a classic motif in Arita porcelain. The Seika brand reinterpreted this historical theme in a warm, modern, and playful style that is cherished by collectors worldwide.
This stemmed shape is known as a Bahai (馬杯 / ばはい) or Bajōhai (馬上杯), which literally translates to “horseback drinking cup”. These cups have traditionally been used for three primary purposes: serving traditional spirits (Sake), presenting desserts and small appetizers (Kobachi), and enjoying special varieties of tea.