Description
This Japanese Satsuma Vase by Kinkozan dates to the Meiji period, circa 1900, and represents the mature output of one of Kyoto’s most significant Satsuma workshops.
The vase is of baluster form and is decorated with large scenic panels depicting finely rendered figural subjects. One panel features a pair of bijin attending to a young girl holding a cricket cage within a garden setting of pink blossoms and green foliage beneath a Japanese acer tree. A second scene shows a mother and daughter standing beneath hanging wisteria, each dressed in seasonal kimono. The compositions are executed in softly layered pastel tones with controlled brushwork, framed by tight gilt patterning and set against a deep cobalt ground enriched with gilded polychrome floral decoration.
The neck and foot are finished with Greek key borders, introducing formal structure and balance to the design. The base bears the gold painted character marks for Kinkozan (錦光山), identifying the Kyoto based workshop that became the largest and most prominent producer of Satsuma ware during the Meiji period.
This example demonstrates the workshop’s ability to combine narrative figural scenes with disciplined colour control and surface harmony, qualities that define high grade Japanese Satsuma produced for the export market at the turn of the twentieth century.
See more from our Japanese Satsuma Collection.
ABOUT THE MAKER 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.
ABOUT THE 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.
WHAT IS 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 Ware please see our article Japanese Satsuma Ware.
About JAPANESE WISTERIA
Wisteria, known in Japan as fuji (藤), has been admired for centuries as a symbol of elegance, longevity and nobility. During the Heian period (794-1185), the colour purple, which is closely associated with wisteria, was reserved for members of the imperial court and aristocracy. Wisteria also has practical and cultural importance through textile known as fuji-fu, made from the plant’s vines. It is one of the oldest fabrics in Japan and was designated a tangible cultural property in 1991. Since the Edo period, wisteria has been cultivated on trellises to create its distinctive flowering canopy, a tradition still seen in gardens today. It was also used historically in traditional medicine, adding to its layered cultural meaning.
For further information on Wisteria and its long history in Japan see our article Wisteria in Japanese Art and Culture.
MEASUREMENTS
14.5cm High x 9.5cm Diameter (5.7 x 3.75 Inches)
CONDITION
Very Good, some small rubbing to the gilt
WHY BUY FROM JACKSONS ANTIQUE?
At Jacksons Antique, we are a small family-run business with over 10 years of experience in the fine antiques trade. We are proud members of LAPADA (The Association of Art & Antiques Dealers) and CADA (The Cotswold Art & Antique Dealers’ Association), trusted by collectors, interior designers, and private clients worldwide.
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