Kutani ware is a group of styles of Japanese porcelain from the Kutani area in the former Kaga province. It is divided into two ages: Ko(old)-Kutani (17th–19th centuries), and export-Kutani from the Meiji period (late 19th to early 20th century). As Kutani is a place and not a factory or a single manufacturer it represents several styles produced by various kilns. Kutani objects are easily identified by the simple kanji mark 九谷.
