Description
Fantastic Canister Form
From our Japanese collection, we are delighted to offer this Japanese Satsuma Vase by Kinkozan. The Satsuma Vase made from earthenware pottery is potted in canister shape with a pinched neck and flared bottom rim. The Satsuma Vase is beautifully decorated to the exterior with three large scenes bordered by gilt simulated bamboo upon Kinkozan’s trademark cobalt blue ground. The first painted panel depicts a riverside location with a mass of foliage and blossoming trees surrounding a small traditional Japanese building to the centre amongst birds in the sky. In the foreground to the right hand corner a huge koi carp sweeps up towards the surface. The second scene depicts a mother and child on the banks of the river as they forage on hands and knees outside their home beside beautiful cherry blossom. The third and final scene, a trademark of kinkozan’s work with a selection of blossoming flowers which include Wisteria (Fuji), Peony (Botan) and Cosmos (Kosumosu). The top and base of the vase are beautifully detailed with gilt scrollwork borders having roundels of ho-o mythical phenix, fans, flowers and a base of greek key. The Underside of the Japanese Satsuma Vase is signed with both the painted and blind mark for Kinkozan 金光山 and dates to the Meiji period(1868-1912). The double signature indicates that the piece was both potted and painted within the Kinkozan workshop unlike other pieces which only bear the painted mark which often indicates the pieces were bought in as blanks and then decorated.
KINKOZAN 金光山
the Kinkozan family have been associated with pottery dating back to 1645. They went on to become the largest producer of Satsuma ware by one individual company, from the end of the 19th century until 1927 after which the factory closed. By the 1850s Kobayashi Sobei (1824-84), Kinkozan Sobei (artist name Kinkozan IV), started to export his products together with the Kyoto manufacturer Taizan VIII. The main target market was America with their main production period approximately between 1875-1927 under the leadership of Kinkozan V(1868-1927).
For further information please see our makers and retailers page on Kinkozan.
MEIJI PERIOD (1868-1912)
The Meiji era marked Japan’s transformation into a modern nation and a golden age of decorative arts. With the end of samurai rule and Japan’s opening to the West, artisans produced works of exceptional quality for both domestic and international audiences. Supported by the government through world fairs and Imperial commissions, Japanese lacquerware, cloisonné, satsuma ceramics, bronzes, and ivory carvings reached collectors worldwide. Many leading artists of the time, including Makuzu Kozan and Namikawa Yasuyuki, were honoured as Imperial Household Artists, ensuring the Meiji period remains one of the most celebrated eras of Japanese art.
For further information please see our article Japanese Meiji Period: Art, Collecting, and Cultural Transformation.
SATSUMA WARE
Satsuma ware originated in southern Kyūshū around 1600 and developed into one of Japan’s most recognisable ceramics. Early Ko-Satsuma pieces were rustic, dark-clay wares made for everyday use, while the later Kyō-Satsuma style became famous worldwide during the Meiji period.
Characterised by ivory crackled glaze, delicate overglaze enamels, and lavish gilding, export Satsuma appealed strongly to Western collectors. Designs often feature landscapes, flowers, figures, and scenes from Japanese life and mythology. Renowned artists such as Yabu Meizan, Ryozan, and the Kinkōzan workshop produced some of the finest examples, which remain highly sought after today. Genuine Satsuma can often be identified by the Shimazu crest, artist signatures, or the mark “Dai Nippon” used during the Meiji era.
For further information on the history of Satsuma Wear please see our article Japanese Satsuma Ware.
MEASUREMENTS
14.5cm high x 8.5cm Diameter ( 5.7 x 3.35 Inches)
CONDITION
Excellent
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