Vintage Japanese Sumida Gawa Mug with a Handle 19th Century •Very Good Condition with Signs of Color Wear Due to Age of it (19th Century) •This is a vintage Japanese Sumida Gawa mug with a handle. Vintage condition is good. The artist's mark is on the back. Sumida Ware was made by Japanese potters for export to the western world. The earliest known pieces of Sumida were made in the beginning of the 1870's. This ceased in 1941 at the beginning of World War II, although there are two different styles that were made in the 1950's.   The majority of this pottery has a distinctive look. The rim drips with a high gloss glaze over an unglazed body. The glaze usually coats the interior. Figures in high relief are attached as decoration. These figures can be people, animals or flora. The unglazed body is usually in tones of red, green, black or orange. These items were either for decorative or functional purposes. Vases, bowls, cups and teapots are the most common pieces.   Most of Sumida is signed with a potter's mark.