u/DesignerPast7672

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some insight (and potentially a rough valuation) on this Japanese tea caddy/jar I’ve recently acquired.

After some initial research and a bit of "home science," here is what I know:

The Mark: It’s signed on the base with the Sato (佐) workshop mark in a lozenge.

The Metal: It is non-magnetic, odorless, cuts through ice and has a very clear "bell-like" ring. I performed a Specific Gravity test which resulted in approx. 10.4, suggesting it’s high-grade silver rather than a base metal alloy.

Construction: This is what fascinates me—it’s not a single-piece casting. It appears to be two hand-chased panels joined at the corners (vertical seams are visible on the interior) with a separate, heavy 3mm-thick soldered base plate.

Details: The interior walls have "dimples" that match the exterior Millefleurs (thousand flower) pattern, which I believe indicates it was hand-chased/hammered.

Weight: 317g (approx. 9.6 oz)

Size: 85mm tall.

I’ve already contacted a few auction houses (Grace at Lyon & Turnbull is interested and is going to investigate and come back to me), but I’d love to hear from the Reddit experts. Is the "Sato" workshop well-regarded among collectors? Given the weight and construction, what would a fair market value be in the UK/Global market?

I’ve attached photos of the exterior, the interior tool marks, and the base signature. Thanks in advance for any help!