Antique Japanese Meiji Era c1880's Dark Glazed Stoneware Tokkuri Sake Jug White Slip Calligraphy 12"H Statue living with him and studying

living with him and studying under his guidance for nearly two decades

Those items named Sho Chiku Bai are typically used to indicate grade/quality of themselves

It was a friend of mankind and guardian of the spirit world

This is a Compact style Soroban for basic calculations

while the interior is decorated with a looser carved pattern that highlights the craftsmanship of the piece

Antique Japanese Meiji Era c1880's Dark Glazed Stoneware Tokkuri Sake Jug White Slip Calligraphy 12"H Statue living with him and studyingAntique Japanese Dark Glazed Stoneware Tokkuri Sake Jug White Slip Calligraphy Tap Hole Meiji 14"H Japan Late Edo to Meiji Period, 19th century A dark iron brown glazed stoneware tokkuri () of good proportions, the ovoid body rising to a narrow neck with rolled lip ring. Bold merchant calligraphy in white slip sweeps across the body in a loose, expressive hand the identifying mark of a sake brewery or merchant house. A lower tap hole is present,