202 - MATSUMOTO HOZAN: A RARE SATSUMA CERAMIC ‘DRUNKEN SHOJO BY THE SEASHORE’ VASE

MATSUMOTO HOZAN: A RARE SATSUMA CERAMIC ‘DRUNKEN SHOJO BY THE SEASHORE’ VASE By Matsumoto Hozan, signed Kyoto Matsumoto Hozan Japan, c. 1900, Meiji period (1868-1912) Of cylindrical form, set to opposite sides with two angular gilt handles, the exterior exquisitely decorated in vibrant polychrome enamels and extensive gilding with two large rectangular panels. One depicts four shojo, the mythical red-haired, sake-loving spirits of Japanese folklore, gathered on a rocky seashore, two drinking from large sake saucers, a third reclining beside an open book, and the fourth dancing with a sake ladle slung across her shoulders, with richly decorated sake jars nearby. Fishing boats and distant mountains are visible across the tranquil bay. The opposing panel depicts an elegant gathering of richly dressed men and women before thatched pavilions. Both scenes are framed by elaborate gilt borders of floral scrolls and intricate geometric patterns against a reddish-brown ground. The recessed base is densely decorated with a profusion of chrysanthemums in delicate pastel enamels, surrounding a gilt rectangular reserve signed Kyoto MATSUMOTO HOZAN. HEIGHT 22.4 cm Condition: Excellent condition with no visible damages or signs of restoration (checked under UV light). Minor wear and expected rubbing to gilding. Matsumoto Hozan (active circa 1900) was a Kyoto-based Satsuma artist and decorator whose exceptionally finely painted wares are distinguished by elaborate figural compositions, intricate ornamental borders, and sumptuous gilding. His works are variously signed Matsumoto Hozan and Dai Nihon Kyoto Matsumoto Hozan, with some examples also bearing the mark of the Yasuda Company. The depiction of shojo is a particularly unusual and delightful subject in Satsuma ceramics. These mythical, long-haired spirits, originating in Chinese folklore and celebrated in Japanese Noh theater, are renowned for their extraordinary fondness for sake. In the famous Noh play Shojo, the benevolent spirit rewards a virtuous sake merchant with a miraculous vessel of inexhaustible wine, symbolizing prosperity, happiness, and longevity. Here, the four bright-red-haired figures are depicted in a charmingly playful composition, leisurely enjoying themselves beside the sea, their supernatural character contrasting delightfully with the finely observed human gathering on the reverse. Auction comparison: Compare a related Satsuma ceramic vase, decorated with large panels of figures in a garden before a pavilion and a lakeside landscape, by Matsumoto Hozan, dated to the late 19th century, 29 cm high, at Christie’s, The Avo Krikorian Collection: Innovation and Inspiration of Meiji Period Design, 19 February 2007, Zurich, lot 33 (sold for CHF 3,360 or approx. EUR 4,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).