Meji Period Japanese Satsuma Vase

Meiji period, late 19th Century/Kyoto, Japan

Satsuma ware originated in Kagoshima Prefecture on the southern tip of Kyushu, initially produced by Korean potters brought over by the local feudal lord in the late 16th century. By the late 19th century, particularly during the Meiji period, production expanded rapidly to meet intense Western demand following Japan's opening to international trade.

These wares became famous for their distinctive ivory-colored earthenware bodies covered in a fine, web-like network of transparent crackle glaze. Artisans in Kyoto and Tokyo embellished the blank pieces with intricate hand-painted polychrome enamels and lavish raised gold work known as moriage, often depicting classical Japanese figures, floral motifs, and landscapes for the export market.