Hezezilla
Well-Known Member
Hi guys. I got one big mystery bottle for you guys that I'm almost absolutely sure will never be solved. But on the off chance it does, I'll let you know.
I have here a beautiful Japanese turn-mold cider bottle. It is very much akin to the early ring-necked Mitsuya cider bottles. I in fact bought this with one. The only identifying mark is the base which is in Kanji (Chinese characters). I have tirelessly looked for a few months now and finally decided on "正莊號選" or "正選號莊" being the correct reading and characters. However, no matter how I look at it, it makes absolutely no sense. I don't speak Japanese so I might be getting something wrong. Only God knows.
I know nobody really cares but the breakdown of the characters is:
正 - Correct, Righteous, Justice
莊 - broom (usually only used in names)
號 - mark, sign, symbol, number
選 - elect, select, choose, prefer
Any way you read it, it's gotta be someone's name.
The original seller didn't know what it was, three of my Japanese-speaking friends didn't know, my Japanese professor and his wife didn't know, my bottle friends didn't know . . . I am at my wit's end.
I am going to ask all of my local contacts again before I really give up. God, I wish collecting orientals was easier
Original eBay photo (bottle in question is on the left and a Mitsuya Cider on the right).
I have here a beautiful Japanese turn-mold cider bottle. It is very much akin to the early ring-necked Mitsuya cider bottles. I in fact bought this with one. The only identifying mark is the base which is in Kanji (Chinese characters). I have tirelessly looked for a few months now and finally decided on "正莊號選" or "正選號莊" being the correct reading and characters. However, no matter how I look at it, it makes absolutely no sense. I don't speak Japanese so I might be getting something wrong. Only God knows.
I know nobody really cares but the breakdown of the characters is:
正 - Correct, Righteous, Justice
莊 - broom (usually only used in names)
號 - mark, sign, symbol, number
選 - elect, select, choose, prefer
Any way you read it, it's gotta be someone's name.
The original seller didn't know what it was, three of my Japanese-speaking friends didn't know, my Japanese professor and his wife didn't know, my bottle friends didn't know . . . I am at my wit's end.
I am going to ask all of my local contacts again before I really give up. God, I wish collecting orientals was easier
Original eBay photo (bottle in question is on the left and a Mitsuya Cider on the right).