217 - KINKOZAN: A VERY FINE SATSUMA CERAMIC ‘SAMURAI AND CHERRY BLOSSOMS’ VASE

KINKOZAN: A VERY FINE SATSUMA CERAMIC ‘SAMURAI AND CHERRY BLOSSOMS’ VASE By the Kinkozan company, sealed Kinkozan zo Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912) Finely potted, the globular body is supported on a short, straight foot and surmounted by a gently waisted neck with a thick-lipped rim and narrow circular mouth. The exterior is exquisitely decorated in vivid polychrome enamels with extensive gilt details, with two large panels, one depicting a group of warriors dressed for battle, several mounted on horseback, amid blossoming cherry, and the other enclosing a pair of pheasants with richly rendered plumage among flowering chrysanthemums and foliage, both panels framed by a deep midnight-blue ground extending across the surrounding surface and enlivened with an array of gilt and silvered cherry blossoms and maple leaves. The recessed base is covered in a clear glaze revealing the cream-toned ceramic body beneath and bears the impressed seal mark KINKOZAN zo [made by Kinkozan]. HEIGHT 11.4 cm Condition: Excellent condition with no visible damages or signs of restoration (checked under UV light). Minor wear and light rubbing to gilding. The Kinkozan company was among the most successful producers of so-called Kyo-Satsuma (Kyoto Satsuma) wares. Like their counterparts in Osaka, Yokohama, and Tokyo, Kinkozan’s production reflects Kyoto’s response to strong Western demand for finely painted Japanese ceramics during the Meiji period. Following the international exposure of Japanese art at the Paris Exposition of 1867, the rise of Japonisme in Europe led to a significant increase in exports, with Kinkozan wares admired for their delicate brushwork, refined compositions, and harmonious use of color and gold. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related Satsuma ceramic vase decorated with a cockerel and chickens under a cherry tree, by Kinkozan, dated to the late 19th century, 17 cm high, at Christie’s, The Avo Krikorian Collection: Innovation and Inspiration of Meiji Period Design, 19 February 2007, Zurich, lot 39 (sold for CHF 9,360 or approx. EUR 11,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).