What is Satsuma made of?

What is Satsuma made of?

Satsuma ware dating up to the first years of the Genroku era (1688–1704) is often referred to as Early Satsuma or ko-satsuma. The oldest remaining examples of Satsuma are stoneware made from iron-rich dark clay covered in dark glaze.

What kind of pottery was made in Satsuma?

Satsuma pottery was made in, or around Kagoshima in Kyushu, Japan in the later part of the 19th century, through to the early 1920’s in Satsuma in southern Japan. A typical piece of Satsuma will be of a yellow complexion and usually decorated with intricate and minute Japanese figures, landscapes and even dragons.

What do the makers marks mean on Satsuma?

Many of the Japanese makers marks on Satsuma porcelain or pottery are simply the name of the person who made the item, or a generic marking such as “Dai Nippon Satsuma”. You may also find that there are no main markings, only Japanese numbers. These types of markings are more common on larger vases that form part of a set.

Are there any Satsuma pieces that are in good condition?

Many satsuma pieces that are from the original location and from makers such as the Kinkozan family are rare and if intact and in good condition, can fetch a high price from collectors. There are many different pieces of Satsuma Pottery, but the most commonly collected are as follows:

What does Satsuma ware mean in Japanese history?

It is in the context of this tradition that Satsuma ware, an oddly paradoxical category that can simultaneously refer to some of the most desirable — as well as some of the most reviled — Japanese ceramics ever made, emerged.

Can you tell if a piece of Satsuma pottery is genuine?

All of the original Satsuma pottery pieces were made, glazed and painted by hand. Therefore, you should be able to see if the marking has been painted by hand or stamped on. If a stamp or print has been used to mark the piece, you may have a more modern item – most likely mid to late 20th century and worth less value.

Who was the first person to make Satsuma pottery?

Born in 1842, Kozan was one of the Kyoto pottery experts who made the Satsuma style famous around the world and his works are still considered to be of the finest quality. Although he was not one of the original potters from the initial Satsuma kilns, his artistic stylings and craftsmanship have made his pieces very collectible.

Who are the Shimazu Mon in Satsuma pottery?

The circle with a cross that often make up a part of the marks, are the Shimazu mon or the family crest of the clan that ruled Satsuma Han however I doubt that any one of the Shimazu clan ever owned or, let alone ordered one Satsuma export style ware piece to be made.

It is in the context of this tradition that Satsuma ware, an oddly paradoxical category that can simultaneously refer to some of the most desirable — as well as some of the most reviled — Japanese ceramics ever made, emerged.

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