Posted 4 years ago
kwqd
(1121 items)
The tokkuri is 4.25" high 2" diameter at the base. The ochocko are each 1.75" high x 1.75" diameter. The tokkuri is very fine and so thin that I can see a shadow made by my finger as it passes between it and the light source, like bone china. The ochocko are substantial and I can see the construction under the glaze. Guessing the tokkuri is porcelain and the cups traditional pottery. There is a label on one cup which reads "Asahi Sato Gordon Collection". There is a vestigial label on the bottom of the tokkuri but nothing legible.
I recently bought a nice Hagi Ware sake set to replace my broken set, but it turned out to be unused and of pretty nice quality, so I decided to hold off on using it until I can determine the maker. Haji Ware is changed by use and can even be subject to mold if not dried and stored properly. At any rate, I decided to buy the cheapest boxed sake set that I could find to replace it and settled on this one for $7.50. It was not quite the cheapest set I could find but I noticed that the decoration is very similar to a good quality Imaemon cup which I purchased not long ago.
When the set arrived, I was surprised at the quality of the pieces so tried to research "Asahi Sato Gordon Collection". All I found is that pottery with this label is very common in the U.S. and most dating puts it in the 1960s and 1970s. My best guess at this point is that "Sato Gordon Collection" may indicate an American importer or a product line of an American department store or other commercial entity. There is a type of Asahi regional pottery but it does not strongly resemble this sake set. Asahi pottery is made in Uji, Kyoto, Japan. The Asahi of my sake set may, or may not, have something to do with Asahi Ware and Uji, Kyoto. There were several Asahi companies but none seemed to be associated with pottery making. I checked with a few folks in other countries and this label appears unique to the U.S. If anyone has information about the maker/importer/seller of pottery marked "Asahi Sato Gordon Collection" I would appreciate knowing it.
Update: I did find a set of mugs with only an Asahi label (not Sato Gordon Collection) in a box labled "Azuma, 415 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016". Perhaps ordered from a catalog. That lead me to an article about where to buy Japanese objects in the New York Times, dated 28 December 1978:
"Azuma has six stores; the branch with the most Japanese furnishings is at 415 Fifth Avenue (889?4310). In addition to its large assortment of inexpensive ceramics, vases, lacquer ware, lamps and lanterns, Azuma has 40?inch ceremonial umbrellas for $29.98; hand painted cotton banners for wall hangings, priced from $8 to $40; bamboo screens for $100; and a large collection of decorative fans, from $1.19 for plain paper to $29.98 for a lacquered fan two feet wide."
Beautiful floral sake set, nice score
Thanks Jenni! I am pretty pleased with this set!
Thanks for taking time to look at my sake set Kevin and Jenni!
Thanks for taking a look at my Asahi sake set blunderbuss2, PhilDMorris, poticheman, Lisa, Thomas, aura, Broochman and fortapache!
Thank you glassiegirl!
My sake shipment arrived today so I got to use these, and gained a new appreciation for how nice this set is. It is a couple of steps up from my old set. When I was putting them away the box, which is a bit soft, slipped in my hand and three of the cups when flying around my kitchen. Luckily none were damaged and now there is a rubber band around the box.
Thanks for taking a look at my Asahi sake set, Karen! Soon, I will post an image of a Japanese tea set which has been in my family for about 40 years, three generations...
Beautiful piece, and so much information and research.
I wonder if I might ask... some "sake sets" have four cups... some six... I have even heard of eight. I have a little Lusterware owl set (that is, I THINK it's a sake set) that has six. Is there any particular rhyme or reason to the number?
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/286798-my-deco-owl-sake-drinking-set
Thank you!
Thanks HappyHourOwls! This is my every day sake set. I did look at the number of cups that come with sake sets, and it is pretty arbitrary, with two and four per flask being most common.
Thank you. With the package in tow, at least you'll never have to wonder if you have the correct original number!
Again, a beautiful little set...
Thanks katherinescollections and vcal!
Hi! I have recently been given an Asahi Sato Gordon sake set by a family member. I was just wondering about some of the writing on the tokkuri and the ochockos, is it actual Japanese writing or just some scribbling. Also, is this something that someone from Japan would have used? I'm not trying to judge who would have used them, just going off of what the tag says "Asahi Sato-Gordon Collection Japan". I also have no knowledge about sake sets in general, so I'm generally curious about the item.
Hi SophiaM. If the writing is on the bottom of the pieces, it is probably Japanese writing. Everything on the sides is purely decoration. This is a set that would have been used in Japan. Notice that writing on the box is in Japanese with a spot left to identify the contents in whatver language the purchasers would have used. These sets were probably made both for domestic use and for export.
Thanks so much! I really appreciate it!