Satsuma ware is pottery that has been traced back to the seventeenth century, which takes its name from the southern province of Kyushu Island in Japan. Satsuma has been called “pottery” and “porcelain”, but is really something in between. In that same locale were kilns making pottery that went as far back as the sixteenth century. In addition, Satsuma was also produced in Kyoto, Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Yokohama, Kobe and Kanazawa, by hundreds of known artists, in many varied styles and by thousands of unknown decorators.
The first Japanese pottery was characterized by a cream-colored body, covered by a glaze, usually yellow in color. The potters of Satsuma began using decorative approaches to their art because of the competition from Imari porcelain. Imari porcelain was also made on the island of Kyushu, in the Arita area. Nearing the end of the eighteenth century, not wanting to lose customers to the Imari potters, a renowned Japanese potter named Ninsei, learned the Imari techniques. He showed the Satsuma artists how to decorate their relatively plain pottery, using different colors of enamel as well as gold. Current Satsuma porcelain exhibits strong, thickly applied colors.
The term “Satsuma” came about because of the location and thereafter, the way the pottery was described. Favorite patterns originally included beautiful floral designs, geometric patterns and the well-known phoenix and dragon designs. With the coming of the nineteenth century, inviting landscapes and life-like figures became more commonplace. The very early pieces don’t have many surface images. The clay that is used to make Satsuma can differ, depending on the location where it was made. Clay from Kyoto will give a lighter appearance and clay from Kyushu will give it a darker tone. The Kyushu clay will cause the crackled glaze to have a darker, more pronounced look.
All Satsuma pottery is known for its crackled glaze. Crackles break the surface into thousands of tiny planes, giving it a soft effect and are caused by a difference in shrinkage between the body and glaze during cooling. Satsuma also does not ring when it is tapped, like other china pottery will do. Satsuma is fired at a lower temperature than porcelain, but at a higher temperature than most pottery. The pottery is characterized by an overlay of decorations in raised polychrome enamel colors and gold.
The 12 inch high, dazzling Satsuma vases, being offered today, are from Kyoto and are most likely from the Meiji period, which is from 1868-1912, but could be even older than that. The bodies of the vases are of vivid cobalt blue, upon which are two hand painted panels. The panels’ designs feature a mountain landscape and the gorgeous, flowering sakura (cherry) tree. In the garden below are women in colorful red, pink and green kimonos. The entire scene is embellished with deep gold gilt accents. The cobalt blue portion of the vases also has magnificently detailed, gilt floral patterns. Both of these stunning, rare Japanese vases are in excellent condition and free of cracks or chips and are originally signed in gold on the bottom. These elegant, incredible, antique Japanese vases are of classic beauty, with rich cultural history and will make an outstanding centerpiece for any room in your home! Buy these exquisite vases here
