Visit the authors website where you can get more information regarding Satsuma Pottery and find where and when to buy these items at auction.
Satsuma Pottery
The style of pottery known as Satsuma was first created on the southern island of Japan in the later stages of the 19th century. It continued to be made through to the early 1920s but there have been many historic finds and records in the same area that proves that there were people making earthenware pottery there as far back as the 16th century. The term Satsuma is derived from the name of the area in Japan where these pottery items were made.The hallmark signs of a piece of pottery made in the Satsuma style or from that time period is that it is of a creamy or off white and sometime beige complexion. The pottery is then hand painted in amazing, intricate designs featuring scenes from japanese life, animals, flowers or landscapes. The design is then covered with a thin translucent glaze which deliberately ends up with a crackled finish. These three things make the Satsuma pottery stand out among other pieces from the same era.The pottery made by the artisans of the satsuma area became so sought after and popular that it was heavily copied all over the world. Many of the items of pottery you find from this region were also mass produced and therefore finding that antique needle in haystack can prove difficult. Many items of pottery and porcelain ware were copied and produced overseas in China and were then marked as SATSUMA.The decoration of the pottery from the Satsuma region is truly amazing. Hand painted with brightly colored enamels, gold and silver and using various techniques such as raising the enamel slightly to give an added effect to the work. The images are incredibly detailed and minute in their design and dimensions. The Satsuma vases for example can range from being heavily decorated all over with dragons or full landscapes complete with animals, rivers and trees to a more simplistic image of Japanese society of notable people from that area or time.Although the cracking of the glaze makes the pottery look old and antique, it was actually done that way on purpose. The cracks, called Kannyu, were part of the design ideal of the makers and forms part of the style of the pieces. The glaze was applied in thin layers and when heated sufficiently and cooled quickly, resulted in the small hairline fractures that cover the entire pieces.Many different style of satsuma pottery are available. Vases, bowls, cups and figures all feature the intricate artistry of the maker and the tell tale signs of glorious antiques from years gone by.