Pair of vases; Japan, Satsuma, Meiji period, c. 1900.

Pair of vases; Japan, Satsuma, Meiji period, c. 1900.
Hand-painted porcelain and wooden pedestals.
Signed on the base.
Measurements: 25 x 15 cm (x2); 2.5 x 11 cm (pedestals, x2).
This pair of Japanese Satsuma vases, dated around 1900, in the Meiji period, exemplifies the technical and aesthetic refinement characteristic of this prestigious ceramic. Made of finely hand-painted porcelain, they are meticulously decorated with court scenes set in gardens, where noble figures, dressed in rich kimonos decorated with geometric and floral motifs, blend harmoniously with nature.
The background, covered with the characteristic ivory crackle glaze of Satsuma ceramics, enhances the delicate gold, ochre and green tones used in the painting. The upper rims show geometric ornamentation with touches of gold, which reinforces the elegance of the ensemble. Each vase sits on a carved wooden base, underlining both its ornamental and prestige function.
These pieces reflect Meiji Japan's refined taste for detailed miniaturization and decorative harmony, while also reflecting the influence of Western collecting, which encouraged the export of luxury porcelains with traditional Japanese themes reinterpreted for a global audience.