2. Hattori

HATTORI 

服部

KYOHO HATTORI 服部杏圃 : Working during late Edo – early Meiji period till at least 1881 (last information known)  

There were more Hattori’s  working in Meiji period and later.

• Kyoho Hattori ( 服部 杏圃 , date of birth and death   unknown) is best known for his overglaze painting in the style of Western still-life painting, which is totally different from the Japanese tradition.  Kyoho Hattori  was a Subakiyama Chinzan School ceramic decorator and painter. He strived early on to improve ceramic painting, and in 1869 (Meiji II) he taught the Nishikite painting method in Hizen Arita at the behest of Nabeshima Kasso. He mainly used sketches and light colours and ink on silk paper, while applying the patterns of famous prints. When the Austrian Exposition was organised in 1873 (Meiji 6), Kyoho, who had previously painted on export ceramics in Tokyo, was selected for a short time to run a government factory in Shimotani (Taito-ku), Tokyo, and painted on Hizen and Owari porcelain. He took his works to Austria, where he achieved great fame. Later Kyoho turned to the study of plastic sculpture, and from 1881 (1881-4) he gave up ceramics and devoted himself exclusively to this work, but he lost his family fortune and has not been heard of since.” Source: Tsuruta, Sumihisa/ https://turuta.jp/story/archives/2414)

Kyoho Hattori may not be confused with two other Hattori’s who both were working in kinrande Satsuma style. It is not likely that Kyoho Hattori continued to work after 1881 in other styles, like kinrande.

• There was  a Hattori working who generally produced very good an even high quality kinrande-Satsuma.  He is referred to as a Kyoto based artist, although Tokyo is also possible.  He signed with Hattori zo.
• In Yokohama a Hattori was working, who delivered work of less higher quality, with exceptions. This Hattori signed with Hattori sei zo, sometimes also including Yokohama.  Hattori / Hattori sei zo  was a mark of a Nishiki-Gama studio, producing Satsuma style Yokohama export ware from 1900 – 1940.  Most of these products were mass produced for the export. The mark differs from the Hattori zo  Marks.