Japanese mark and style?

[moniak]

Japanese mark and style? What would this cup be good for? What kind of pottery is this?

[Stan]

I am not sure what you have from the pictures shown, looks like Amari style with a studio mark, Im not sure what it would be used for, maybe an ashtray.

[peterp]

Could the mark be Shiramine ???  The dot on the first character is missing, but it is not unusual.

[Stan]

I am not familiar with that name, maybe a modern potter.

[peterp]

It's a place name, probably, as many of the kiln names are. But many Japanese family names are the same as some place names.

[Stan]

Thanks Peter, the shape looks modern, maybe that is why the name dose not show in any of the indexes in my books, they are mostly on Japanese antique porcelain.