need help translating antique to english

[afnelso]

my mom has this antique and we think it might be old but nobody can tell us what the writing at the bottom means. can someone help please.

[Guoke]

It could be 松葟, but I'm not certain.

松 ： a pine tree

葟 ： to blossom

Edited October 4, 2009 at 03:57 PM by Guoke

[Mingjing]

what is this used for?

it seems like “松篁” （篁 pronounce the same as 皇 ）.

松 is pine,

篁 is bamboo. a ancient Chinese word. now we call bamboo "竹“ or ”竹子“. But if you like to know more about Chinese culture, it's better to know some Chinese ancient words.

let's see the meaning. it use to metaphor constancy of chastity.

[afnelso]

do you know the timeframe of the writing or could it also be a signature of sorts. just curious have no idea what that would mean?

[889]

You need to show the item itself, not just the mark; I suspect this is a Japanese mark and name, since Japanese potters more often use a cartouche mark.

[Mingjing]

obviously, they're chinese characters “松篁”. means good chastity ( "貞節” ).

a important quality for woman at ancient china.

[889]

Then this would be the Japanese given name 松篁 Shoukou.

Here's the same mark (though different script) on a piece of Japanese 京焼 Kyoyaki ware:

http://page12.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/p163342437

(That link will stop working in about 9 hours when the auction ends.)

And this is why it's important to show the piece itself, not just the mark, when requesting a translation.

[afnelso]

Here is a picture of the full piece. If you have any more information, let me know

[889]

It certainly looks like a classic Longquan celadon censer.

But these are produced by potters in Japan today as well.

Google shows a Yahoo Auctions Japan listing for a 山澤松篁作 青磁香炉 "Celadon Censer by Yamazawa Shoukou." Unfortunately, the auction's ended so only the Google fragment remains, which you can find by searching 山澤松篁作 青磁香炉. If you check Yahoo Auctions Japan from time to time you may find someone listing one of these again.