When most people think of antique Japanese pottery, they immediately think of antique Japanese porcelain. To be completely honest though, porcelains were not the only form of earthenware that was popular in Japan, nor were they necessarily the most appealing.
For many years before porcelain rose to fame, Japanese pottery was mostly clay based with glazed finishes. Satsuma pottery in particular was renowned for its ‘crackled’ glaze that was often tinged slightly yellow.
More noticeably however, Satsuma antique Japanese pottery pieces were all richly decorated in elaborate artistry that often depicted scenes of life and legends. Sometimes, this trend was most noticeable in the antique Japanese pottery sculptures of heroic figures from both history and myth.
Generally speaking, Satsuma antique Japanese pottery pieces are considered to be somewhere in between true porcelain, and regular pottery. Distinguished in their own way, Satsuma crafted items have enjoyed great popularity due to the appeal of their style and motifs.
Some of the more intricately hand painted antique Japanese pottery from Satsuma is especially valuable, as it is in such pieces that the true depth of artistic impression that was the pride of the Satsuma line can be viewed. In such pieces, it is impossible not to appreciate the inherent beauty that the artists delicately put down.
As a style, an art, a tradition, and a calling, Satsuma has a place in antique Japanese pottery that is decidedly singular.
HI, We have a very interestintg-looking Japanese vessel, with a raku-looking body, but the clay is reddish, the glaze seems to be a grey-white oil slip, and while the vessel itself looks as if it was made spontaneously, in the raku style, there is a highly detailed sculpture in deep relief with a very realistic tree framing the foreground, and two monks praying at an alter in the mountains in the background. There are two stamps (not decals) on the bottom and they look Japanese, but they are not Japanese “characters” as we know them. Any ideas? I do have digital photos to send if anybody would like to have a look.
Thanks!