Samurai Shokai Tea Sets

Antique early-20th century Japanese Meiji period, extensive solid silver eight-piece tea and coffee service on tray, exceptional and magnificent quality. Comprising: a teapot, a coffee pot, a kettle on stand, a creamer, a covered sugar bowl, a tea caddy, a covered entree dish on stand, and a two-handled rectangular tray. Superb quality and double walled, chased, embossed and applied with a twisting water dragon in very high relief, with realistically modelled dragon-form handles and spouts applied with elongated flowing whiskers. Hallmarked with Japanese silver marks (jungin, meaning pure silver, 1000 standard), Yokohama, Makers mark Samurai Shokai (active 1894-1950). The only other similar set (but, less complete) was sold in Christies, 17 October 2017, New York, result $87,500. Founded by Japanese businessman Yozo Nomura (1870-1965), Samurai Shokai was one of the most famous luxury shops in Japan during the early 20th century. After abandoning his university studies and traveling to America and Europe, Yozo Namura moved back to Yokohama, near Tokyo where he opened a small luxury shop selling not only silver but also jades, lacquerware, silks and porcelain. The company quickly grew and, to satisfy his international clientele, Nomura became a pioneer in offering a mail order service. Sources of the time reported: “English is spoken in all the departments. Prices are marked in plain figures, and there are no misrepresentations. Purveyors to the Imperial Japanese Household, and to the chief Museums of the world. Wholesale and retail. Manufacturers and exporters. Mail orders a specialty. Recommended.” (T. Phillip Terry, Terry’s Japanese Empire...

Antique early-20th century Japanese solid silver massive eight-piece tea & coffee service on tray, exceptional and magnificent quality, double wa...