1970's Kyoto Jirobei Sake Cup

[wlwhittier]

This boxed cup is from the same (my paternal family) estate, but obviously from later than 1952.
Whether received as a gift or purchased on a return trip is not known.
It is professed (by a hand-written note) to have been made in Kyoyo by an artist named Jirobei, and that the box as well as blue cloth are marked with that name...see pics. The blue cloth must have anti-tarnish treatment, as the cup hasn't been polished, and is bright on the un-plated surfaces.

Almost 4" diameter; 1-1/2" high; 116.2gm; it appears to have a gold-plated interior with (partially) matte finish.

Beautifully made, and well balanced; a finger-thumb opposed grip at the rim results in a remarkably stable drinking vessel.

Note: the Manji Mon is left-handed, very unlike the right-handed German 3rd Reich symbol.

Sorry; it was necessary to 'squash' several of these pics.

[davidross]

The first Takagi Jirobei (高木治良兵衛, 1828-1885) began making iron kettles in Kyoto under the Jirobei name in 1855. Works (whether iron or silver) are signed 治良べ.

If the sake cup dates from the 1970s, it was probably made by Jirobei IV (1911-1996) or possibly by Jirobei V (1941-1983), who died rather young at 42. The current Takagi Jirobei VI (b 1943) is working in Kyoto making iron kettles and other tea utensils.

It seems that the signature has not changed over the decades as the Jirobei name has passed from one generation to the next, making dating somewhat subjective.

While the Jirobei dynasty is known for iron work, there are silver teapots signed Jirobei. A silver sake cup would seem to be rather unusual.

Regards,
DR

[wlwhittier]

Thank you, David!

What an amazing amount of historical background about a many-generation family of Artisans...my gratitude, sir.

Your comment that a silver sake cup 'would seem to be rather unusual' does not (I hope) mean you have doubts about authenticity...I certainly can't vouch for anything other than what can be seen in the pics. I'll be ver' surprised if it isn't as it appears: genuine.

Is there a question, or am I misunderstanding your meaning? wlw

[davidross]

You are welcome.

Yes, you are misunderstanding my meaning. There are hundreds, thousands of iron kettles and other tea utensils by the six generations of Jirobeis. I have seen no other Jirobei sake cup. That said, I doubt that the sake cup is a one-off.

Certain markets are flooded with fakes, of course, but I cannot imagine a faker going to the trouble of fashioning a bogus Jirobei sake cup in gilt silver. Such an item would only appeal to a niche market.

What I was implying is that the sake cup may be hors commerce. It looks like something that would have been commissioned by a family for a wedding ceremony, if the manji were their family crest. If the provenance is indeed lost in the sands of time, we will probably never know. Maybe you have some family records, letters, or photos that will shed light on it?

Regards,
DR