Width: 30cms
Height: 30cms
Date: Circa 1880
£4,500
Product Code: KPCE178
Artist / Company: Meizan
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A Japanese Satsuma dish decorated with a detail procession of Samurai carrying gifts and tributes. Some of the boxes they are carrying are labelled with the Shimazu crest. As this is Satsuma it is not uncommon to see it as part of the decoration, but it could also suggest these are Samurai of that clan.
The men are dressed in uniform formal regalia, complete with swords but no armour, suggesting this is a peaceful journey. They sport impressive Kataginu (overvests popular in the Eedo period) with very exaggerated shoulders. Each man in individual and has his own sometimes very humorous expression.
Signed Meizan on the reverse.
Condition is very good. Please contact us for additional information or to request a viewing.
Kataginu
A Kataginu is a type of broad wing like vest worn over trousers as part of a Kamishimo (everyday formal wear of the Samurai) it is an impressive imposing garment making the wearer look bigger than they are, despite its somewhat unwieldly appearance the Kataginu is surprisingly flexible and easy to fight in if need be. The Kataginu is one of the most ancient forms of Japanese dress and dates back to 500BC, they are now usually only worn as ceremonial outfits or in traditional plays.
Samurai
The famous Ssamurai of Japan were a hereditary military nobility caste who help to shape and rule Japan from the 12th Century to their abolition in the Meiji period. In Japan, Samurai are known as Bushi (meaning warrior) they were usually associated with a Clan or Lord and were highly trained officers in combat and strategy. They lived by the code of Bushido (way of the warrior) which was Confucian in origin, and taught loyalty, self discipline and respect. They used many weapons including spears, bows and arrows and later on guns, but they are most famous for their swords. The Japanese Samurai blade is made by laminating metal (repeatedly folding) to create a very sharp but brittle edge which could then be combined with a central strip of stronger metal to create a blade. Despite being the best known use of this technique Japan only adopted it in the 1200’s, Western civilizations such as the Celts had been using this method 2000 years before. The right to own and wear swords in public was a privilege granted only to the Samurai, they would usually wear a Daisho (pair) of swords, one larger than the other, there are many sizes and classes of samurai swords but the most common pairing would be the Katana and the Wakizashi.
Shimazu family crest
The Shimazu family were the rulers of Satsuma in the Meiji/Taisho period so their mark (a circle with a cross in it) will often appear on pieces from this time.
Satsuma
Satsuma ware is a type of earthenware pottery originating from the Satsuma province in Southern Kyūshū, Japan’s third largest island. The first kilns were established here is the 16th century by Korean potters kidnapped by the Japanese for their extraordinary skills, prior to this there was no ceramic industry in Satsuma.
The first presentation of Japanese arts to the West was in 1867, Satsuma was one of the star attractions, it was this that established the satsuma aesthetic we are most familiar with today. This export style reflects the foreign tastes of the time, popular designs featured millefleur (million flower), and complex filled in patterns. Many pieces featured panels depicting typical Japanese scenes to appeal to the west such as pagodas, cherry blossom, birds and flowers and beautiful ladies and noble men in traditional dress. The height of popularity for Satsuma was the Meiji Period and many of the most beautiful and artistically accomplished works were made during this time.
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