Japanese vase - removing old masking tape

Discussion in 'Pottery, Glass, and Porcelain' started by Tom Mackay, Aug 1, 2020.

  1. Tom Mackay

    Tom Mackay Well-Known Member

    I'd guess the vase is reasonably contemporary, maybe mid century, but I want to see the mark that's under the old tape, without actually destroying the tape.
    Anyone know what's written on the tape ?
    Not knowing "which way is up" I'll post 4 pics of the writing.
    Height - 10 " (26cm)
    Interior - glossy black 20200724_182503.jpg 20200724_182531.jpg 20200724_182631.jpg 20200724_182737.jpg 20200724_182755.jpg 20200724_182656.jpg 20200724_182709.jpg
     
  2. Mugzinnys

    Mugzinnys Well-Known Member

    include Ritz maybe
     
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  3. Couch Potato Wannabe

    Couch Potato Wannabe Well-Known Member

    The first photo is the correct orientation.

    I'm not 100% sure, but it could be:
    河マ考る = Think about a river

    Will probably get a better idea once we can see the marking beneath the tape.
     
    Tom Mackay likes this.
  4. Tom Mackay

    Tom Mackay Well-Known Member

    I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean.
     
  5. Tom Mackay

    Tom Mackay Well-Known Member

    I do not read kanji but I suspected as much, as the other orientations all looked somehow odd.
     
  6. Sandra

    Sandra Well-Known Member

    Maybe try a q-tip barely moistened with "Goo Gone" or similar around the perimeter of the tape. That may loosen the tape enough that it could be carefully lifted and preserved. Try to avoid getting the Goo Gone near the letters, as the chemicals may obliterate the writing.
     
  7. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    Masking tape adhesive is annoyingly insoluble. But you may be able to gently work it off with a thin spatula or scalpel. With any solvent there is the risk of causing the ink to bleed, as Sandra says.
     
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  8. janetpjohn

    janetpjohn Well-Known Member

    I would just take a picture of it and remove it. I don't see how it adds value.
     
  9. Tom Mackay

    Tom Mackay Well-Known Member

    It's getting a label remover soak. The adhesive backing of the tape is extremely well bonded to the surface. If that fails the tape gets sacrificed for whatever mark it is so precisely hiding ! Whatever it says I have the photo, as you say, and now I know the correct orientation.
     
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  10. clutteredcloset49

    clutteredcloset49 Well-Known Member

    Razor blade slowly worked under the tape while it is wet, might work.
     
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  11. blooey

    blooey Well-Known Member

    If it isn't COMPLETELY dried out you can safely remove it intact without resorting to scraping tearing or otherwise butchering it by repeatedly flooding it with benzine, i.e. Ronsonol, lighter fluid. You can also remove adhesive stickers from delicate paper or leather using benzine. It generally evaporates without and residue and if any adhesive remains, it can be gently swabbed off with benzine and a q-tip.
     
  12. Tom Mackay

    Tom Mackay Well-Known Member

    That is a great tip to remember !
     
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  13. Tom Mackay

    Tom Mackay Well-Known Member

    So - no more tape. Underneath the petrified glue was a mark and the word SEYEI.
    Looking it up I found lots of fine china tableware but nothing like my vase. The few vases I found were quite different. The attached site can be useful but not in this case, as far as dating goes. I guess that's that. I plan on using it for a plant that grows tall and slim. 20200801_122228.jpg
    http://modernjapanesepotterymarks.blogspot.com/2015/06/seyei-china-porcelain-of-aichi.html
     
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  14. Sandra

    Sandra Well-Known Member

    You can't leave us hanging like this over the saga of the tape Tom:nailbiting:. Were you able to remove it in one intact piece?
     
  15. Tom Mackay

    Tom Mackay Well-Known Member

    It was not coming off and I wasn't prepared to devote time to a lengthy surgical procedure. I declared the patient expired.
    So off came the paper layer of the tape and then with aggressive scrubbing, using a synthetic woven kitchen scrubber, off came enough of the glue to see what was under. Considering it had soaked since yesterday in label remover I had to work harder than expected.
    What I like about the vase is its understatedness, the very slight gradations in colour and the sense of mid-century it gives me. It's also big enough to be home to a sizeable plant without occupying a large footprint. I was simply hoping to narrow down its age and origin.
     
    Sandra likes this.
  16. blooey

    blooey Well-Known Member

    No drainage hole though? Root rot?
     
  17. Tom Mackay

    Tom Mackay Well-Known Member

    Years ago I stopped using pots with drain holes, fussing with drainage trays and suffering the sometimes associated drainage tray overflows. I've not had a problem with root rot. I guess I developed a "feel" for not over-watering. I've seen mentioned that's the #1 houseplant killer.
     
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