Topic: Japanese Symbols on Hand Painted Glass

[Ohio]

Right now I'am tied up organizing a youth football league schedule so its best you take these pics & post them to the chataboutdg site. Just say Ken sent you. They will id them fairly quickly. Ken

[Mosquito]

Re. the symbols, while they are as you say Japanese Kanji, they are therefore identical too to non-simplified Chinese Hanzi and while they are a bit oddly proportioned they are fine for handwritten characters. The jade green colour too looks very Chinese in style. I'm saying this not because I think they are Chinese in origin, but because of what the designs represent, i.e. not just compass points but Mahjong tiles. The rectangular border and letter in the upper left corner are all consistent with this.

Thus, I suspect that these are US made/ decorated pieces designed to cash in on the popularity of the game in the 20s and 30s. The different (i.e. non compass)order of the tiles hence doesn't matter here

[chelseasattic]

Brilliant, Mosquito!  As a player of Mahjong and having sold many, many sets I am embarrassed that I hadn't thought of that myself.  I just envisioned some not to bright artist painting the compass all whopperjawed and had a good chuckle at my own imagination!  You have all been so helpful despite my landing on a non-US Glass site.  I obviously did not realize that or I wouldn't have troubled you outside of your area of interest!

[Ohio]

Talk about ironic...While I was doing the youth football schedule, DW was playing Mahjong with seven of her friends...her group has played it for years. Too complicated for me with all the winds, dragons, flowers, etc.

[chelseasattic]

Well, I appreciate the start you gave me and I did post on your recommended other site as well hoping to nail down a manufacturer!  I think they're stunning and they are in very nice condition.  I am more of a Deco girl, collecting only original Fiestaware but I am kinda falling in love with these!

[Lustrousstone]

  I obviously did not realize that or I wouldn't have troubled you outside of your area of interest!

It's not outside our area of interest, just that we have less knowledge here of US glass, so may not have the answer. Mind you we don't have the answer to a lot of stuff. You can also post four pictures per reply.