Meiji Period Cobalt Blue Satsuma Painted Geisha Vase Marked Shozan 尚山

 Antique Japanese Meiji period cobalt blue Satsuma vase signed with the mark of Shozan / 尚山

This cobalt blue Satsuma vase is hand-painted with Geisha and a makyo child with Mount Fuji in the background.  The base is marked with the signature of Shozan. 尚山  It is late Meiji period, circa 1880s to 1900 and is approx 8 1/2" tall.  The reverse panel shows the landscape and water below Mt. Fuji.





Shozan mark: 尚山

It's worth mentioning that Gotheborg identifies the Shozan mark 尚山 as Shuzan 珠山 which are not only two entirely different and separate identities with completely different marks, but that the kanji for Sho & Shu are not even remotely similar nor are they interchangeable.   An overwhelming amount of the information contained therein that site is inaccurate.



 For Sale.  $100 usd / obo + shipping & insurance

Japanese Edo period Matsuyama Gama Aode Kutani Double Gourds 松山窯 青で 九谷

Here's another one of my most recent auction acquisitions, a pair of Japanese Edo period Ao-de Kutani double gourd shaped vases from Matsuyama Gama, signed with the kaku seal of Matsuyama Kiln, 松山窯

Matsuyama Gama existed from 1848 to 1863.  In 1863 the name was changed to Matsuyama Okami Kiln.  Matsuyama ceased production in 1872.   The color and style of original Matsuyama Ao-de Kutani look like Yoshidaya Kutani which was the revival of Ko-kutani, aka old Kutani.

Matsuyama Gama mark:  松山窯

 This style of Kutani is referred to by a few different, but similar names,  often mistakenly called Ao Kutani, but the correct term is Ao de Kutani, Aote Kutani or Aode Kutani.

Ao-de Kutani uses four colored overglaze enamels: green, yellow, blue and purple to cover the surface of vessels. Ao-de Kutani is characterized by its deep green color. (Ao means blue in modern Japanese). Ao-de Kutani originated from Ko Kutani ware , which was produced between the mid-17th century and the early 18th century. About 120 years after the production of Ko Kutani ware stopped, Yoshidaya kiln revived the Ko Kutani style and produced aote Kutani in the early 19th century. After Yoshidaya kiln stopped production, aode Kutani was produced by Matsuyama Kiln from 1848 to 1863.

Matsuyama gama is well known as the ’good’ kiln which production was devoted at the beginning for the sole usage of the Han.

For Sale.  $4000 usd/obo  + shipping & insurance

Meiji Period Thousand Faces Satsuma Nikkozan Plate 日光山 薩摩焼

I'm super thrilled with my latest auction purchases this past week, among them this Meiji period Thousand Faces Satsuma plate marked Nikkozan , 日光山 and the bonus is that 100% of the proceeds of the auction went to a non profit charity to support an animal shelter..

It's my belief that Nikkozan marked Satsuma is likely among the rarest of Satsuma wares because a quick Google search reveals only a few examples, all of which were auctioned off several years ago by Bonham's and Christie's auction houses.  There are no other Nikkozan marked Satsumayaki listed in Google other than these few, and now my own post.

Doing a similar search in Japanese also netted less than a couple of links for Nikkozan Satsuma wares.

I'm rather perplexed why so many sites, particularly online auction sites, refer to this design of Rakan with Kannon and dragon, etc as "Thousand Faces".  I have yet to find any information whatsoever on the story behind this design and insofar as Japanese websites go, the term 1000 Faces in relation to Satsuma is non existent.   It is my belief that the name "Thousand Faces" when applicable to this design of Satsuma is a false one.   

Late Meiji Thousand Faces Satsuma Vase Signed Hotoda 保土田

   Meiji period Thousand Faces Satsuma vase,


















































The vase is signed Hotoda , aka Hodota &/or Hododa, etc thanks to the asshats at Gotheborg for perpetuating incorrect information , 保土田.  The correct spelling is HOTODA.  My estimate is that it's dated somewhere around the end of the Meiji period circa 1900 to perhaps early Taisho period 1916.

Hotoda was one of the last great master's of Satsuma during the Meiji period

.    The Thousand Faces design features Kannon, the Japanese Buddhist Bodhisattva of Compassion, aka Kwan Yin / Guanyin, a single male figure which I haven't identified as of this writing, and multiple rakan which are often erroneously referred to as arhat or lohan, and are commonly also referred to collectively as "immortals,  each of them of the same face, and a white dragon intertwines through them.  Rakan, Arhat & Lohan all mean the same thing, but only RAKAN is used in Japanese.  The other terms are Indian and Chinese.

  There are several variations of the Thousand Faces Satsuma design, as well as the Thousand Faces Kutani.  

the wooden stand ise Chinese late Qing Guanxu period to early Republic period.

For Sale:  $800 usd /obo + shipping & insurance

Chinese Fuzhou Cork Art - 汉语 福州软木画

Chinese Fuzhou cork art originated in the early years of the Republic of China period in Xiyuan village, Fuzhou, capital city of Fujian province.

Chinese cork art was invented by Wu Qiqi, a wood carving artist of Xiyuan village, Fuzhou. In 1914, through the skilled use of various carving techniques, Wu Qiqi used a sharp knife as a pen, engraved and carved flowers, trees, pavilions, trestle bridges and boats, and then made birds and animals such as cranes and peacocks with the rice paper plant. He then stuck all the elements together with white glue, forming a scene and inventing a new and unique style of art which continues to this very day.

I love these cute little things.  Here's some pictures of my little collection of Chinese cork art.