Preliminary identification
Photo reference
5 uploaded photos
Overview
An exquisite, miniature eggshell porcelain gyokuro (high-grade green tea) cup featuring an incredibly dense 'Hana-Zukushi' (abundance of flowers) motif painted over a brilliant burnished gold ground. The base is hand-signed in red enamel with the workshop mark 'Kutani Kaburaki' (九谷 鏑木), indicating it was decorated by master painters at one of Kanazawa's most prestigious Meiji-era art establishments.
Story
Created during Japan's golden age of export porcelain, this tiny cup was designed for the slow, meditative sipping of gyokuro tea. Its dense floral pattern represents a miniature universe where spring and autumn blooms exist simultaneously.
Maker / Origin
Established in 1822 in Kanazawa, the Kaburaki workshop was the very first Kutani porcelain merchant in the region. During the Meiji and Taisho eras, Kaburaki employed the finest local overglaze painters, gaining international acclaim at world expositions for their hyper-detailed gold-ground (Kinjoraku) masterpieces.
Condition & Value
The cup appears to be in excellent antique condition with vibrant enamels and minimal wear to the delicate gold ground. The original wooden box shows age-appropriate oxidation and light staining, which actually helps verify its period authenticity.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.