Masters of Meiji-Era Satsuma Ware and Kyoto Decorative Arts

(1896-c.1950)

Founded 1896, Kyoto, Japan

The Yasuda Company, officially known as Yasuda Kyoto Tojiki Goshikaisha (京都陶磁器合資会社, Kyoto Ceramic Joint Stock Company), was founded in 1896 by brothers Yasuda Gensei and Yasuda Yoshizaburo in Kyoto. Active during the late Meiji period, the company quickly established itself as a prominent manufacturer and dealership of fine Japanese decorative arts, producing and commissioning exceptional works in Satsuma ware, cloisonné enamel, and porcelain.

Overview of a rare pair of candlesticks by Kanzan for the Yasuda Company previously sold by JACKSONS ANTIQUE

While Yasuda produced a broad range of decorative goods from cloisonné to ceramics, it is best remembered today for its Satsuma pottery, which represented some of the finest examples of Meiji-era craftsmanship.

The company’s strength lay in its close collaborations with Kyoto’s most skilled artists and decorators. Among these were Okamoto Ryozan, whose mastery of enamel painting brought Yasuda’s wares international acclaim, along with Sozan, Kizan, Hozan, Kanzan, Seikozan, Shuzan, and Unzan. Each contributed to Yasuda’s reputation for quality, precision, and artistic excellence.

Collectors often regard the Yasuda mark as a hallmark of authenticity and high quality in Satsuma ware. Though the company also produced more commercial-grade works, its best pieces that are signed by leading artists remain highly prized by collectors worldwide.

JAPANESE MEIJI PERIOD SATSUMA VASE BY OKAMOTO RYOZAN FOR THE YASUDA COMPANY available in our SATSUMA COLLECTION at jacksons antique 

For collectors and scholars alike, Yasuda remains synonymous with the height of Meiji-period ceramic excellence, representing a period when Kyoto artisans brought Japanese ceramics and enamelwork to global prominence.