Vintage Kutani Ware Set of 6 Japanese Sake Poem Lithophane Cups Signed, Orig Box

Description

This is another item in our "slow-motion" estate sale. This is a set of
six vintage Kutani Ware porcelain poem cups in their original gift box
. On the outside they have a gold colored finish and depict a classic Japanese scene. These have a red signature mark inside each cup next to a poem in Japanese calligraphy. They also have lithophanes: imprints on the bottom of each cup, depicting a woman. Some sources describe these as "Geisha Lithophanes."
All except one are wrapped in their original paper. I opened all the wrapping to inspect each cup and take photos, and they all appear like new. No chips, cracks, scratches or residue.
The box is textured blue with metal hinges and clasp, all in good condition. The box has an insert that holds each cup, protected by a satin-like fabric sheet. Underneath the insert is some "birds' nest" stuffing.
These were found in a box with other estate items that range in date from the late 1800s to the 1970s. The date these cups were made is unknown, and I'll rely on a knowledgeable buyer to estimate the date.
The brand Kutani Ware appears in Japanese on a ribbon on the inside of the box lid. A label on the outside of the box appears to be a name in Japanese that indicates the store, or perhaps the artist, or both. Google Translate didn't know what to make of that hand-written label.
Each cup:
* is colored with a gold theme. Some references describe this as "Mizu Kin" although I can't confirm that this is correct.
* appears hand-painted as the images on each cup differ slightly even though they depict the same scene.
* has dark lettering printed inside featuring Japanese poems. Also, I am assuming these are sake cups.
* appears to be signed by the maker with a red calligraphy mark. See the gallery for the maker's mark.
* has a lithophane imprint in the bottom of what appears to be a woman's portrait. These have been described on kutani ware reference sites as Geisha Lithophanes. Each imprint is slightly different, also indicating these were made by hand.
* is approximately 1-1/2" tall and 2-5/8" in diameter. The box is approximately 7-1/2" x 5-1/4" x 2".
You can get the best idea of the scene by looking at my gallery, but overall, the background is a gold color that extends over the lip of each cup.
I welcome any additional information from kutani ware experts!
Arigato! Thank you very much!
I'm a private seller. I prefer to sell to knowledgeable buyers who know more than I do about they're getting. I welcome messages from eBayers who have more information about my items.
We've been selling estate items for several years, and with two kids now in college every bit helps. My goal here is also to put some $ into the education fund, while maintaining my 100% eBay seller rating. Note that photos in my gallery are the exact item for sale.
Also, I try to ship via the least expensive method (usually Media Mail for books and CDs) and I recycle packing materials whenever possible (the outside packaging may not be very attractive). For this item I will ship USPS Priority Mail. I will ship as quickly as possible (within two business days).