Sumida Ware Vase With Two Men on Rocky Ledge seeking bird eggs by Inoue Ryosai in the mid-Meiji Period and continued on by two generation potters by the same name until the Showa Period in the 1930's. The pottery was near the Sumida River, hence the Western Name Sumida Gawa. These wares are uniquely Japanese. His studies were well rewarded in the manner in which the pachyderms were sculpted. Their portrayal of climbing over a rocky ledge is extremely lifelike. The mottled glaze that cascaded down from the neck is a reminiscence of the unctuous glazes of Shiwan, the pottery center of South China. It has been recorded that Inoue Ryosai admired and used glazes similar to the Shiwan wares. The red pottery is a convention of Sumida wares and found in many of the pottery pieces. The signature cartouche in white porcelain is following traditions. The four-character mark is Inoue Ryosai II. There are three generations of potters with the same name, The determination is based on style. Dating: late 19 century Dimensions: 11 inches high, 6" diameter
