Japanese Daiko Gilt Bamboo Landscape Demitasse Coffee Set, c.1925

A refined vintage Japanese porcelain demitasse coffee set, dating to the Taishō to early Shōwa period, circa 1920s–1930s. The set is finely decorated with a peaceful bamboo and riverside landscape scene, highlighted with soft enamels, black line work and delicate gilt detailing.

The decoration shows a quiet Japanese landscape with bamboo, a small bridge, distant buildings and stylised natural scenery. The coffee pot, cream jug, cups and saucers are finished with gilt handles and matching geometric border decoration, giving the set an elegant interwar Japanese export character.

The pieces are marked with a two-character gilt mark, read as Daikō / Daiko, 大光.

Details:

Origin: Japan

Period: Taishō to early Shōwa, circa 1920s–1930s

Material: Porcelain

Dimensions (approx.): Pot 17 cm high; cups 4 cm high × 5 cm Ø; saucers 9.5 cm Ø

Mark: Daikō / Daiko, 大光

Set includes: Coffee pot with lid, cream jug, four demitasse cups and four saucers

Decoration: Hand-painted bamboo landscape with gilt detailing and geometric borders

Style: Japanese export porcelain / demitasse coffee service

Condition:

Excellent vintage condition, with no chips, cracks or hairlines noted. There is minor rubbing to the gilt on the handle tips and light age-related wear consistent with careful use. The decoration remains attractive and the gilt detail presents beautifully. Please review all photographs carefully, as they form part of the description.

Historical & Collector Context:

Japanese porcelain coffee and tea services from the Taishō and early Shōwa periods were often produced for both domestic use and export, reflecting Western dining habits through distinctly Japanese decoration. Demitasse coffee sets became especially popular during the early 20th century, combining small European-style coffee forms with Japanese landscape painting, bamboo motifs and gilt ornament.

The bamboo motif is one of the most enduring themes in Japanese decorative art. It is associated with resilience, elegance and quiet strength, while the riverside landscape and bridge scene evoke the refined atmosphere of traditional Japanese painting. The use of soft enamels, black line work and gilt highlights gives this set a graceful interwar character.

The Daikō mark adds further collector interest, identifying the set as a marked Japanese porcelain service rather than an anonymous export set. With its complete presentation, matching decoration and excellent condition, this is a highly decorative and collectable Japanese demitasse coffee set suitable for display, refined table use or a curated porcelain collection.

A beautifully presented Japanese Daiko-marked porcelain demitasse coffee set, with elegant bamboo landscape decoration, gilt detailing and strong Taishō-era charm.