The Story
A court lady in robes walks beside a spotted deer, lantern in hand, moving through a golden ground framed by Chinese column characters and teal banner script. Best Safety Match. Y. Honda. Made in Japan.
This label from the Ichinichi archive is one of the most refined and visually complex in the collection ,a Meiji-era composition that draws on classical Japanese and Chinese iconographic traditions, printed by Y. Honda for the export trade at a time when Japanese matchbox labels were genuinely among the finest small-format commercial illustrations in the world. The deer and court lady pairing evokes the imagery of Nara and the classical Yamato aesthetic ,ancient symbolism, rendered in the flat, vivid color language of pre-war print.
On a matte black ceramic mug, the golden ground of the label glows like a woodblock print come to life. Every morning, a hundred years of craft in your hands.
Who This Is For
For the Japanese vintage collector, the Japonisme enthusiast, the history lover, and the person whose desk or kitchen shelf already tells a story. This mug works as a daily ritual object and as a gift for anyone who appreciates Japanese art, Meiji-era design, Asian antique ephemera, or simply a beautiful thing to drink their coffee from.
Available in two sizes 11oz for the everyday cup, 15oz for the serious morning session.
About the Collection
Every design in the Ichinichi Collection is sourced from a personal archive of original Japanese matchbox labels spanning 1880 to 1940. The Y. Honda labels represent some of the most artistically ambitious work in the archive , produced by a maker who clearly understood that even a matchbox was worth doing beautifully.
Product Details
- Material: 100% ceramic with glossy finish
- Sizes: 11oz (0.33 l) and 15oz (0.44 l)
- Handle: C-shaped easy-grip
- Microwave safe · Dishwasher safe
- Lead-free · BPA-free
- Print: High-quality sublimation printing
- Color: Black matte exterior
Please note: There is a subtle variance between the black of the mug and the default black background of the print file ,this is normal and expected.
