Samurai in full armour advance through swirling dust and gilt cloud scrolls around this Kinkozan Satsuma vase, though by the time it was painted they were already history. The Meiji government had abolished the samurai class in the 1870’s, and the warriors found a second career on export ceramics, where Western buyers couldn’t get enough of them.
The vase is earthenware under an ivory crackle glaze, with an unusual neck: a pair of bamboo-form crossbar handles supporting a tall collar of three bands. The figures are worked in raised moriage enamel with restrained gilding, and the reverse has textile-style geometric patterns in gold, brown, black and red. The base carries the brushed mark 日本 錦光山造, Nippon Kinkozan zō, “made by Kinkozan, Japan”.
The Kinkozan family had been potting in the Awata district of Kyoto since the seventeenth century, and in the Meiji period the workshop became one of the leading makers of Kyoto Satsuma, selling abroad through the great international exhibitions. It comes with a carved hardwood display stand.
Condition notes
Excellent antique condition. Minor gilt rubbing in places. One bamboo crossbar has a stable historic firing crack from the kiln, professionally toned. It is not a break. No restoration to the main body or decoration, and the glaze, enamels and moriage are crisp and intact.
