Satsuma vase. Japan, Meiji Era, ca.1900.

Satsuma vase. Japan, Meiji Era, ca.1900.
Hand-decorated ceramic.
Measurements: 41 x 15 x 15 cm.

Satsuma ceramic vase, a type of Japanese pottery that originated in the sixteenth century in the province of Satsuma, in southern Japan. As is usual in this typology, especially in the Meiji period, it features elaborate and detailed hand-painted designs that combine Japanese deities, philosophers or sages (which we observe in scenes surrounding the globular body), with synthetic vegetal motifs that run along the long neck and encircle the figurative scene. The gilt finish and subtle relief are common features of Satsuma porcelain.

Satsuma production became so popular in the 18th century that the production center was moved to Awata, near Kyoto. In the 19th century Satsuma production became known to the West and a large number of pieces were made for export. It was then that vases and plates decorated with scenes of geisha or samurai became popular, as until then floral and zoomorphic decoration had predominated. The paste can be porcelain or, more often, a very light, porous light terracotta. The glaze is feldspathic, mixed with wood ash. The most characteristic feature of Satsuma pottery is its decorative richness. Generally the motifs are brushed in golden glaze, a novelty with respect to previous styles. The ornamentation is completed with a wide variety of polychrome glazes: green, red, white, turquoise, pink and, above all, "gosu" blue, the most sought after of all, with a very dark tone and typical of the best Satsuma of the 19th century. They are also very thick glazes, sometimes even with relief.