Sake Service Appraisal

Japanese Ceramic Sake Set with Ox Cart Motif

This is a five-piece Japanese sake/rice wine set, consisting of one tall serving carafe (tokkuri) and four small drinking cups (guinomi or ochoko). Each piece is crafted from glazed ceramic, likely porcelain, in an off-white or cream base color. The decoration features a detailed, colorful motif of an ornate, traditional Japanese wheeled cart (possibly an oxcart or a flower cart), surrounded by delicate floral elements and foliage. The primary colors in the decoration are reds/oranges, greens, blues, and black, outlined in dark brown or black. The cart design appears consistent across all pieces, though the exact positioning and floral accents may vary slightly. Both the carafe and the cups have horizontally applied orange/red bands, typically two thin bands near the base and one or two similar bands near the rim. The carafe has a narrow neck and a flared rim. One of the drinking cups is shown on its side, revealing a red 'JAPAN' mark stamped on its unglazed foot, indicating its country of origin. The glaze appears to be intact with a subtle sheen, suggesting good overall condition with no obvious chips, cracks, or significant wear visible from the photograph. The craftsmanship appears to be of good quality, with consistent painting and glazing. Based on the 'JAPAN' mark and typical styling, this set likely dates from the mid-20th century, possibly post-WWII.