A.B. Levy's Ceramics

A beautiful Japanese Satsuma pottery studio vase featuring multiple kesa-clad enlightened Buddhist monks on each side of the vase. The piece is finely detailed with rich raised gilt highlights throughout and beautifully decorated in gold and various hand painted other colors. From the Meiji period (1868-1912). This piece has the all-important Shimazu Family crest mark (red circle with a cross inside) on the base authenticating the work as an old and original Satsumaware work. The mark shows the pottery was made under the rule of the Shimazu clan. From a Los Angeles Collection...

A magnificent antique Japanese Meiji period Satsuma pottery moon flask vase, circa 1880. The vase is very skillfully hand-painted in polychrome enamels and gilt decoration, it is of ...

Traditional Chinese Rose Medallion large bowl with social scenes and nature motifs of butterflies, florals, and birds. A very nice larger size bowl! All hand painted with enamel and ...

Meiji Period (1868-1912) From our Japanese collection, we are delighted to offer Japanese Meiji Period Satsuma Vases. The Satsuma Vase of hexagonal form with a slight waisted neck and tight rounded rim is extensively decorated with multiple figures to two large scenes. The first scene features a beach with waves to the background and a plethora of figures including multiple geisha holding traditional Japanese wagasa’s. The second scene follows on from the first with a large building in the foreground holding figures on a large platform under a pagoda roof with a pagoda building in the background and further figures in the foreground. The scenes are framed by a full detailed border with gilt shapes, flowers amongst pink shaded backgrounds and butterflies around the neck. The Satsuma Vase is unusually signed Fine Art, Satsuma Ware, Dai Nippon (Great Japan), Hattori Made, Gosuido Works, Taizan Painted. 美術, サツマヤキ(薩摩焼), 大日本, 服部造, 五スイ堂工, 對山画 and dates to the Meiji Period (1868-1912) and the turn of the 20th century circa 1905. Satsuma ware is a type of earthenware pottery originating from the Satsuma province in Southern Kyushu, Japan’s third largest island. Wagasa are traditional Japanese umbrellas made of washi paper attached to a bamboo frame and treated to ensure it is waterproof. Meiji Period was an era of Japanese history that spanned from 1868 to 1912. It was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people began to build a paradigm of a modern, industrialised nation state and emergent great power, influenced by Western countries and aesthetics. As a result of radically different ideas, the changes to Japan were profound and it affected the social structure, politics, economy, military, and foreign relations across the board. The period corresponded to the reign of Emperor Meiji and was preceded by the Keio era and was succeeded by the Taisho era. Cultural Art during the Meiji Period was of particular interest to the government and they overhauled the art export market which in turn promoted Japanese arts via various world’s fairs, beginning in Vienna at the world fair in 1873. The government heavily funded the fairs and took an active role organising how Japan’s culture was presented to the world including creating a semi-public company named Kiritsu Kosho Kaisha (First Industrial Manufacturing Company). The Kiritsu Kosho Kaisha was used to promote and commercialise exports of Japanese art and established the Hakurankai Jimukyoku (Exhibition Bureau) to maintain quality standards. For the 1876 Centennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia, the Japanese government created a Centennial Office and sent a special envoy to secure space for the 30,000 items that would be displayed. The Imperial Household also took an active interest in arts and crafts, commissioning works by select artists to be given as gifts for foreign dignitaries further emphasising the high quality and importance of Japanese art. Just before the end of the 19th century in 1890, the Teishitsu Gigeiin (Artist to the Imperial Household) system was created to recognise distinguished artists. These artists were selected for their exceptionally high quality wares and talent in their own industry. Over a period of 54 years Seventy artists were appointed, amongst these were ceramicist Makuzu Kozan and cloisonné enamel artist...

Beautiful round porcelain dish or circular box with a cover in blue and white. This circular chinoiserie box with a cover is finely decorated with a crisp blue and white hue. This di...

This handsome pair of 20th century glazed and gilded Japanese Satsuma vases, with their vivid, jewel-like colours and elegant baluster-shaped forms, feature the traditional Japanese ...

These are a very good quality pair of earthenware Japanese Satsuma vases, beautifully hand decorated and from the Meiji period, circa 1880. The vases have a hexangular shape raised o...

Large colorful vintage Chinese porcelain fishbowl/planter from the Qing period. Features classic oriental floral motif. Overall, the piece is in won...

The Chinese Export porcelain dish in the famille rose palette is painted on the border with meandering vines and flowers which surrounds a central panel decorated with vases and pots of flowers...

A fine antique Japanese Satsuma pottery vase. In the form of a bud vase with a round base and narrow, tapered neck. Decorated throug...

A petite and beautiful hand-decorated ceramic baluster vase, painted all around with traditional Japanese motifs, including native flora, birds and bamboo stems on a creamy glazed background. The colour palette is bold and bright, with highlights of green, red and blue, together with plentiful gilt relief...

A fine diminutive, antique Japanese Satsuma pottery cabinet vase. Decorated throughout with gilding and raised enamel. There are...