SARGE Posted April 25, 2020 #1 Posted April 25, 2020 Gents, I thought I would start a thread about Sake cups. There were many varieties of Japanese lacquer and porcelain military and home front sake cups that are quite collectible. There are also attendant bottles and accouterments that were made during the war. I am sure many reside in your collections. I will start the thread off with a red lacquer sake cup with a Japanese Police badge in it. Notice the red lacquer bowl sits on a short footing and the highlights of the badge and edges are coated in gold leaf. Please show your sake cups.
triplecanopy Posted April 25, 2020 #2 Posted April 25, 2020 I am glad that you started this subject as I have four Sake cups that I have wondered about for years now. These were all found in a cave/tunnel on Okinawa. Also found was a rice bowl (not pictured) I have had these cups since 1989. Someone told me that they might be ceremonial for those Japanese flyers about to take off for the last time. Nearby Yomitan Airstrip was a Japanese base. Any thoughts?
vintageproductions Posted April 25, 2020 #3 Posted April 25, 2020 The top left is Cavalry, the top right is an army infantry unit. I am sure someone else can give you exact translations, but none are Kamikazee. If I can find mine, I will post it.
triplecanopy Posted April 25, 2020 #4 Posted April 25, 2020 Thanks. I never knew anything about them, only speculation as to what they might be.
Fortunes Of War Posted May 31, 2021 #7 Posted May 31, 2021 Very nice collection of cups! I have a few, but Rich's collection puts mine to shame!
RRA227 Posted June 1, 2021 #8 Posted June 1, 2021 No. A guy is selling part of his Japanese collection. I am just able to buy his stuff. Rich A. in Pa.
Fortunes Of War Posted June 3, 2021 #9 Posted June 3, 2021 Rich- That sounds like a great opportunity. Do you have a primary focus: navy cups, cups with flags, army units, etc? For a while, I only collected cups with flags on them. The flags had to have writing on them a la, good luck flag style however. There seemed to be so few of those, that I branched out into navy/ship painted cups.
RRA227 Posted June 4, 2021 #10 Posted June 4, 2021 No. I just buy what he has for me. I do not care what it is. As cheap as they are I could care less. Rich A. in Pa.
Fortunes Of War Posted June 4, 2021 #11 Posted June 4, 2021 Yeah, you are right. A few years ago the price was going crazy on cups, bottles and trays. There has been a dip in recent years, making them a great collector opportunity.
Fortunes Of War Posted June 16, 2021 #13 Posted June 16, 2021 It looks like the sake bottle has raised paint on it (the white flower). Does this have a top to it?
RRA227 Posted June 16, 2021 #14 Posted June 16, 2021 Yes. The white petals are raised. None of my bottles have tops. Wish they did. Rich A. in Pa.
Fortunes Of War Posted June 17, 2021 #16 Posted June 17, 2021 Here is a navy related cup in my collection. It has a white cherry blossom in the center. The outer ring is painted a green color. In the center is a gold leaf navy anchor, crossed with a Japanese battle flag on its staff.
RRA227 Posted June 22, 2021 #17 Posted June 22, 2021 Nice cup. 4 trays. 1 is Navy. 2 matching bottles. 2 matching bottles and 5 cups, 19th. Army. Rich A. in Pa.
Fortunes Of War Posted June 23, 2021 #19 Posted June 23, 2021 Rich- Thanks for posting; I like the trays too! What kind of condition are the bottoms of the trays? I normally find them pretty badly scratched or cracked. Do you have Dan King's book on sake cups? Mike
RRA227 Posted June 24, 2021 #20 Posted June 24, 2021 The bottoms are not cracked. No. I do not have that book. Rich A. in Pa.
Jack the Collector Posted June 24, 2021 #21 Posted June 24, 2021 21 hours ago, Fortunes Of War said: Dan King's book on sake cups? I am guessing since you have mentioned it,this is the book to have? Does it cover fakes?
Fortunes Of War Posted June 24, 2021 #22 Posted June 24, 2021 Jack- Here is the "book blurb" on Dan's sake cup book taken off Amazon Books: It's been out since 2003 and seems to be priced anywhere from $40-$60. There were so many cups and minimal interest in them by collectors at the time, that there was virtually no worry about fakes. After the book's release (actually before that), collectors began to go crazy for them and prices increased, only to later crash. There has been a bit of a recovery (primarily in certain areas like navy cups with ships) since then, but still not the kind of demand seen in the earlier days. "His new book is the first in English on this fascinating and increasingly popular military collectible. The main purpose of this book is to provide the reader with accurate information to aid in translating, determining the origin, value and history of the Japanese military Sake cups. Sake cups were commissioned by naval troops, pilots, tank crews, supply crews, infantrymen, cavalrymen, telegraph and railroad engineers with an innumerable variation of colors and designs. Each cup is a mini time capsule with the owners name and regiment inscribed, enabling the collector to search for the background and history of the soldier who once drank a victory toast, or a farewell toast with these very cups. It is hoped the book will foster a greater understanding and appreciation for this little known field of Japanese militaria/art collecting."
Fortunes Of War Posted June 24, 2021 #23 Posted June 24, 2021 My collection of cups is pretty small. I collect primarily cups with flags and I prefer writing on the flags (good luck flags). I also collect navy related cups, although I have sold a number of those over the years. I like the styles with raised designs in the center of the cup. A few of navy ones are cracked but I like the design, so have kept them.
vintageproductions Posted June 24, 2021 #24 Posted June 24, 2021 There were two other books printed in Japan that came out right before Dan's book. This one was the better of the two:
Jack the Collector Posted June 24, 2021 #25 Posted June 24, 2021 Thanks guys!The more I look at saki cup post here,the more I want to start collecting them.They have vibe about them that make them desirable....I am almost certain my wife will divorce me if I start yet another collection!
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now