Japanese Meiji Period Satsuma Bowl Signed Kozan

JAPANESE SATSUMA PROCESSIONAL VASE From our Japanese collection, we are delighted to introduce to the market this Japanese Satsuma Vase by Kinkozan. The vase with a compressed body ...

Meiji Period (1868-1912) From our Japanese collection, we are delighted to offer this Japanese Satsuma Iris Vase Painted by Ryuzan. The Japanese Satsuma vase of tall tapered form features a circular rolled foot rim, slightly pinched base with a tapered body and slightly bulbous opening. The vase is decorated with a central continuous band of bright iris flowers with various shades of green to the stems and beautiful violet petals. The central band is framed by greek key borders and honeycomb geometric patterns to the top and bottom. The vase is signed to the base Ryuzan 龍山 and dates to the Meiji Period (1868-1912) and the late 19th century circa 1895. Satsuma ware is a type of earthenware pottery originating from the Satsuma province in Southern Kyushu, Japan’s third largest island. 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...

Painted with Continuous Scenes From our Japanese collection, we are delighted to offer this Japanese Satsuma Vase Pair by Gyokuzan. The Satsuma vase pair of squat bulbous form with ...

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...

A finely decorated and glazed Japanese porcelain vase by Makuzu Kozan (1842-1916) circa 1900s Meiji Period. The vase is of a classic bottle form with baluster body and short neck. It was decorated with underglaze white magnolia blossom on a pleasant celadon background. The stamens of the flower were artistically rendered in a low relief, giving the design a realistic appeal with the dimension. Miyagawa Kozan...

A rare ceramic bowl with overglaze paint decoration by Japanese imperial potter Makuzu Kozan ((1842–1916). Unlike the better-known works Kozan made for the expositions in the west and export to the foreign market, this piece exemplifies his work for the domestic market and the tea ceremony. The bowl was made in the so called "Utusushi" Ogata Kenzan (1663-1743), a celebrated Edo painter and ceramicist. Utusushi is loosely translated as "in the spirit of". It is not at all a simple imitation of a master, but a Japanese concept of embracing the spiritual essence of a master while the creator is free to mix in his or her own unique artistic interpretation and flavor. The bowl was made to hold fruits during the tea ceremony. It has a very distinguished form with a circular lower body morphing into a square upper portion that further opening with flared rim. The surface has a grey glaze onto which Asagao flowers (Japanese morning glory) on the vines were painted in a free and poetic style. White was used for the petals, green for the leaves with touches of gold highlight. Asagao, the symbol of the summer was rendered in the spirit of Ogata Kenzan, and interestingly the shape of the blossom echoes the unique form the bowl. It was likely reserved for the tea ceremony during the summer months. Under the base, Kozan was signed in black on a white porcelain plaque inlay. For two similar examples of Kozan's work Utusushi Kenzan, see Page 168-169 of the book: Sekai ni Aisa Reta ya Kimono Miyagawa Kozan Makuzu...

A Japanese long neck porcelain vase circa 1900-1910s by the studio of Miyagawa Kozan (1842–1916), one of the most established and collected Japanese ceramist from the end of Meiji Period. Commonly known as Makuzu Kozan, which also appears as the signature on his work, his originally birth name was Miyagawa Toranosuke. He was the appointed artist to the Japanese Imperial household and his work was exhibited in many international fairs that the Meiji government participated at the turn of the century. This vase features an elegant Classic form with a slender neck and slightly flared mouth above a baluster body. It was finely painted with two swimming carps in a copper red underglaze among green ribbons like waves. The background display a brilliant verdant green overall, Around the fish a poetic hazy effect was emphasized for a visual complexity by Fuki-e (the blow painting), an invention in Kozan's studio. The new technical development of chemical colors from the west was embraced circa 1900s in Kozan studio. This empowered the more creative experiments with not only colors, but also concept of dimension, which led Makuzu Kozan's work to become a bridge between East and West aesthetics. This is particularly evident in this vase with the Masterly details of the brush strokes, the expertly employment of gradient of color, and a very realistic and detailed rendering of the fish and their vivid motions. For two similar examples of Kozan's work with similar carps decoration, see Page 148-149 of the book: Sekai ni Aisa Reta ya Kimono Miyagawa Kozan Makuzu...

A rare published glazed ceramic bowl with surface paint decoration by Japanese imperial potter Makuzu Kozan ((1842–1916) with its original inscribed tomobako storage wood box. Unlike the better-known works Kozan made for the expositions in the west and export to the foreign market, this piece exemplifies his work for the domestic market and specifically, the tea ceremony. The bowl was made in the so called "Utusushi" Ogata Kenzan (1663-1743), a celebrated Edo painter and ceramicist. Utusushi is loosely translated as "in the spirit of". It is not at all a simple imitation of a master, but a Japanese concept of embracing the spiritual essence of a master while the creator is free to mix in his or her own unique artistic interpretation and flavor. The bowl was made to hold sweet cakes during the tea ceremony. It has a very distinguished form with a circular swelled lower body morphing into a square upper portion that further opening with flared rim. The surface has a distinct glaze pattern partitioned diagonally in black and brown. On top, snow-covered branches of prunus flowers were painted overglaze in a poetic near-abstract fashion. Blooming in winter, prunus flower is the symbol of the season and cherished for its resistance to cold. The bowl was likely reserved for the tea ceremony during the winter months. A white porcelain plaque with Kozan in black inlay was placed on the black glaze toward the bottom. Under the base, the bowl was further branded with two incised characters "Makuzu" as shown. The original tomobako bears ink inscription and paper slip label "Sweet Bowl...