Antique Japanese Satsuma Miniature Vases

Pair of ANTIQUE JAPANESE SATSUMA STYLE MINIATURE VASES. After doing considerable research we have associated the vases with Japanese Satsuma. We discovered the following information which seems to relate to these vases. They appear to be made in blue ground pottery.

They may be dated early 20th century. If they are Gosu blue Satsuma, this was produced in limited quantity in Kyoto in the mid-nineteenth century; pieces typically present with over- or under-glaze containing minerals such as cobalt, which gives a bluish hue and a more vivid quality to painted images.

We guess that these are older Japanese ceramics, because like those, they do not feature any stamps or signatures that we can see. As such these are heavier, thicker and more dense. The vases don't have an eggshell glow when held up to the light. It could be the decoration looks like Satsuma but it is porcelain. If so then it is likely Kutani.

We think it is on glaze painting because we can make out a difference between the background and the foreground painting which is applied on top of the glaze creating a softer, more matt finish. You can feel it if you gently run your fingers across the decoration. The very fine painting and restraint is a hallmark of some of the best artists.

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