An exceptionally rare and pristine antique Japanese miniature three-piece porcelain tea set crafted by the legendary Fukagawa Seiji company during the late Meiji to early Taisho period (circa 1894–1915).
This exquisite cabinet set includes a micro cylindrical teapot with a matching lid, a miniature teacup, and its original coordinating saucer. Unlike common mid-century export wares, this early piece features no Western "Nippon" or "Japan" stamps—confirming it was hand-painted for the elite Japanese domestic market or high-end boutique travel trade before World War I.
The porcelain body is decorated in the highly sought-after classical Japanese Iris (Iris laevigata) motif, using rich cobalt blue underglaze vertical lines and vibrant iron-red overglaze floral accents. The shoulder and lid are heavily embellished with hand-applied bright gold leaf gilding and deep navy leaf patterns, showcasing the exact luxury artistry that earned Fukagawa its appointment as an exclusive purveyor to the Japanese Imperial Household in 1910.
The undersides of both the teapot and saucer feature the authentic, hand-brushed blue underglaze kanji mark reading "深川製" (Fukagawa sei / Made by Fukagawa) sitting directly above the company's famous stylized Mount Fuji and stream trademark logo. Additionally, the pieces retain their original, antique decorative paper dealer/import inventory labels marked with handwritten Western tracking numbers ("358 / 2").
- Teapot Height: 2.5 inches
- Saucer Diameter: 2.1 inches
- Teacup Height: 0.75 inches
Excellent antique condition with only minor, age-appropriate wear to the slightly rough edge of the cup rim and to the hand-painted gold leaf gilding on the rims and lid finial, adding to its genuine antique character.
