Japanese Meiji Period (1868-1912) Satsuma Kogo Incense Box by Taizan Yohei

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...

Signed Kinkozan 金光山 From our Japanese collection, we are delighted to offer this Japanese Satsuma Vase by Kinkozan. The vase is potted in globular form with a tightly pinched neck and rolled top rim beautifully decorated with four highly detailed individual panelled scenes. The first a Geisha baring a gilt basket with her child playing with a fan infant of a gilt fence encompassing blossoming foliage and bamboo plants. The second scene depicts two birds, a Red Headed Japanese Wood Pigeon and a white dove in the foreground with a similar gilt fence with blossoming kiku flowers (chrysanthemums). The third scene is painted as a bustling village community with multiple figures going about their daily jobs, a central Palanquins can be seen with two figures carrying a seating figure. To the background a mountainous river landscape can viewed bordering the top left corner. The final scene appears similar to the opposing one with birds swooping high above a polychrome Japanese...

Fabulous japanese earthenware Satsuma Vase of great shape and scene. Taizan Yohei style. Meiji Period It was made into a lamp, there is a hole in the base, a cork in the neck and a b...

A tall ceramic satsuma ware vase in a rare slender trumpet form with very fine surface decoration by Japanese potter Taizan Yohei IX (1864-1922). The vase was dated to late Meiji period circa 1890-1900s. The main motif and the focal point of the vase is the continuous panel that circumvents the entire mid-body, apparently a rendition of the Boy's Festival, known as "Tango no Sekku" in Japanese. The traditional festival is celebrated on May 5th of each year. Originated in Nara Period...