VINTAGE JAPANESE PORCELAIN "MORIAGE" DRAGON WARE TEA SET COLLECTIBLE

Description

VINTAGE JAPANESE PORCELAIN 'MORIAGE' DRAGON WARE TEA SET VERY RARE COLLECTIBLE
This set has been in our family from 1930's and is estimated to be produced in Japan by a porcelain handmaking shop in the late XIX or early XX century.
It is a beautiful set in excellent vintage condition.  It consists of the following items:
1 teapot 6-1/2" tall and 9-1/2" with handle up, 8" from handle to spout, 4" bottom diameter
1 sugar pot 4" tall and 6-1/4" handle to handle
8 teacups 3-3/4" diameter, 2" tall.
8 small plates (saucers) 5-1/2" diameter, 3/4" raised edge
The handle on the teapot is made (we think) of bamboo.
Main colors are orange, brown and white with gold gilding.   Some gold gilding specifically on tops of the teapot and the sugar pot are faded some (if interested ask for a photo). Some gilding also faded on edges of plates and cups.  Otherwise, looks perfect.
On all pieces, the main theme is a dragon in various positions.   The teapot has an insert for placing tea (see pictures) that is inserted in the pot before pouring hot water over for tea brewing.
It is a very rare set that is not that easy to find.   It is an excellent representation of Moriage technique of porcelain and clay shops in Japan from second part 1800's to the beginning of 1900's.
Below is some information about 'moriage' slip painting:
The online Japanese-English dictionary maintained by Australia's Monash University defines 'moriage' in the ceramics context as 'to pile up' or 'to heap up', and in other usages as 'to stir up' or 'to enliven'.
For reasons unstated, the Noritake Collectors Guild limits the definition of 'moriage' to the beadwork seen in gilt on many pieces, although the technique generally has come into use with regard just about any Japanese raised decoration brushed onto ceramics in the thick mixture of clay and water called 'slip'. This is particularly the case in the elaborately decorated dishes commonly called 'dragon ware'.
Some sources attribute the innovation and early popularization of 'moriage' slip painting to studio potter Shofu Katei AKA Shofu Kajo (1870-1928).