DK Japanese Fruit Tile, DK, Danto Kaisha, 1920’s, 6x6, Bananas, Pineapple, Japan

Description

A fun ceramic tile of fruit - bananas, pineapple, apples with strawberries in the corners - in high relief. Light pink background. Made in Japan in the 1920’s by the DK, Danto Kaisha Company (1918 - 1935)
6” x 6” x 3/8”  (15 cm x 15 cm x 8 mm) Very good antique condition. A little crackalure.  Impressed on back “ Made in Japan, DK in a diamond" with Japanese characters below it.
The English tile industry experienced a major slump after WW1 and many of the tile making machines, etc were sold to Japan.
In the 1920s, Japanese tile manufacturers began producing imitations of British Victorian designs. Since the Japanese themselves lived in wooden houses, they had very limited use for  tiles.  Japanese tiles were mainly produced for export.  The main production centers were Nagoya in the main island and Saga, Nagasaki on the island of Kyushu.
The peak of the exports occurred between 1920 and 1925. Japan exported to India, China, and South-East Asia. The objective was to show Europe that Japanese artists had reached a high level of ceramics production with quality similar to European tiles. But after 1931 and the start of the Sino-Japanese war, Japan began to lack raw materials and in World War II the export network was discontinued and the Japanese factories closed.  Of the 43 tile makers in Japan prior to World War II, only two or
three have survived. The two largest manufacturers from
those days, Danto Kaisha and Fujimiyaki Tile Works, are still in operation today.
Please examine the photos carefully.  They show the tile in good detail.  Any bright white spots are light reflections and not chips or damage.
Please see all the other tile listings I have.  Happy to combine shipping