Satsuma Vases

Satsuma Vases

Satsuma Vases

Artisans created Satsuma vases, a type of Japanese pottery, during the late Edo and Meiji periods (late 19th to early 20th centuries) and quickly captivated Western collectors. These vases typically feature a baluster shape with a slightly flared mouth, showcasing intricate, hand-painted scenes.

Craftsmen decorated the surfaces with figures—often immortals, monks, or deities drawn from Buddhist or Taoist traditions. They used a palette of earthy tones—browns, greens, reds, and blues—and applied fine detailing throughout the composition. Gold accents and halos behind the figures’ heads suggest their divine or enlightened status, common in Buddhist iconography. Artists used a crackled glaze, a signature feature of Satsuma ware, to impart an antique texture to the vases. They also painted floral and geometric bands in gold around the top and bottom edges to frame the scenes.

About Satsuma Ware

Potters in Satsuma Province (modern-day Kagoshima Prefecture) originally developed this style. As demand grew, kilns in Kyoto and other regions began producing similar pieces, especially for the export market.

• They shaped the pottery from cream-colored, soft-bodied clay.

• They frequently painted deities, samurai, geishas, landscapes, and scenes from daily life.

• During the Meiji period (1868–1912), Japanese artists produced many of these works specifically for export as Japan opened up to the West.