Description
This Japanese Meiji Period Satsuma Vase by Okamoto Ryozan dates to circa 1900. Made in Kyoto from finely crackled earthenware, the vase is of tall tapering form with a circular foot and short flared neck, the surface decorated in polychrome enamels and extensive gilt.
The body is painted with a continuous rural village scene, or fuzokuga, showing figures moving through a settlement of thatched roof houses set amongst pine trees, distant mountains and waterways. Women and children wear richly patterned kimono worked with fine gilt detail, while other figures carry baskets and produce. One woman carries a woven basket filled with vegetables including daikon radishes, and a watermill appears beside the riverbank further around the composition.
The landscape is built up with timber framed buildings, shoji screens, rocky ground and an old pine extending across the rooftops. Fine gilt stippling fills the upper sections of the scene and continues into the surrounding decoration, while geometric brocade patterns, simulated bamboo borders and red and gold diaper work frame the composition around the shoulder and neck.
The underside bears the Shimazu family crest above a rectangular red and gilt seal signed Ryozan (亮山) for Okamoto Ryozan. A handwritten label remains inside the foot rim reading “Bought for Christmas 2013”. The vase was acquired directly from the collector who purchased it in 2013.
View the full Japanese Satsuma Vase Collection.
MEASUREMENTS
17.5cm High x 9cm Diameter (6.9 x 3.54 Inches)
CONDITION
Excellent antique condition, no damage no restoration.
PROVENANCE
Private English Japanese Satsuma collection purchased Christmas 2013 and sold directly to Jacksons Antique in 2026
Who was Okamoto Ryozan?
Okamoto Ryozan (亮山), born Nakamura Tatsunosuke, was one of Japan’s most respected Satsuma decorators of the Meiji period. Trained by the Kyoto master Nishimura Zengoro, he later became Head Artist at the Yasuda Company. His works are admired for their refined brushwork, balanced composition, and subtle colour palette, making Ryozan’s name synonymous with the highest standards of Kyoto Satsuma ware.
For further information see our makers and retailers page on Okamoto Ryozan (亮山).
What is Fuzokuga (風俗画)?
Fuzokuga (風俗画) is a classical genre of Japanese art dedicated to depicting everyday life, human figures, and popular customs rather than formal court portraiture or idealised landscapes. Developing from sixteenth century folding screens into the foundation for ukiyo-e woodblock prints, it captures a vivid historical record of seasonal pastimes, agricultural work, local festivals, and traditional dress. During the late nineteenth century, Kyoto ceramicists adapted these scene compositions into miniature, finely enamelled panels on Satsuma earthenware to showcase traditional Japanese culture to an international market.
What is the Shimazu Mon?
Shimazu 島津 is the name of the clan family that ruled the Satsuma province and the family crest, the Mon is a cross with a circle. The earliest Shimazu Mon was painted in Gosu blue and was believed to be painted in direct relationship to the Shimazu clan and often pre Meiji Period. A mon that is depicted in black, gold or red has no direct link to the Shimazu family and always dates from a period after Edo.
WHAT IS THE JAPANESE 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 Kyushu 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 Kyo-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 Kinkozan 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.
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.
Every piece we offer is individually sourced, carefully researched, and fully authenticated, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. We provide insured worldwide shipping and secure checkout via Stripe, a global payments provider trusted by companies including Amazon and Booking.com.
With every order, you will receive our latest printed product guide, a certificate of authenticity, and full tracking details so you can follow your item from dispatch to delivery. For complete peace of mind, we also offer a no-hassle money-back guarantee.
We provide flexible layaway options and a level of personal service that larger retailers simply cannot match. When you buy from Jacksons Antique, you are supporting sustainable, environmentally conscious collecting and helping to preserve historic objects rather than contribute to mass production.
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