Antique Japanese Meiji Era c1880's Dark Glazed Stoneware Tokkuri Sake Jug White Slip Calligraphy 12"H Statue or alongside other blue-and-white ceramics

or alongside other blue-and-white ceramics

particularly in temples

Hotei is depicted as a wandering

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

Antique Japanese Meiji Era c1880's Dark Glazed Stoneware Tokkuri Sake Jug White Slip Calligraphy 12"H Statue or alongside other blue-and-white ceramicsAntique 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,