Page 74 - Japanese marks and seals on pottery, paper and other objects.

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36 MARKS AND SEALS ON POTTERY.
Another well-known seal is that used by the Yeiraku
family of Kioto. Although this family is now represented by
the thirteenth in descent from Zengoro, its founder, the use
of the seal dates only from the commencement of the present
century, when Riozen, the tenth in descent, invented the
beautiful decoration in red and gold known as kinrande, and
received as a reward from a member of the Tokugawa family
a seal bearing the characters Yeiraku^ which signify Ever-
lasting enjoyment. The examples given below probably
represent all the seals used by Riozen and his successors.

THE SEAL YEIRAKU.
Everlasting e7Ljoyment* Used by the Yeiraku family.

Native reports state that during the feudal times several
of the principal factories were conducted under the direction ,
of the Daimios of the provinces in which they were situated,
but it is not clear whether the kilns were the property of
the princes or were merely favoured with their patronage.
It will probably be correct to assume that the connection
of the prince of Satsuma with the factory at which the
ware of that name was made was of the former character,
and his crest, as drawn below, is copied from a bowl of
faience, upon which it occupies the position in which the
mark of the maker is usually found.

CREST OF THE PRINCE OF SATSU.MA.