Antique Japanese Satsuma Tea signed Gyokuzan, Meiji period 1868-1912

17 pieces of signed Satsuma ceramics with fine hand decoration in enamels and gold. Done by the Chin Jukan family of Kagoshima, Satsuma.

One edge chip to the creamer lid. Two small chips on the inside fitting rim on the tea pot top. Each setting showing differing birds and flowers on the cups, saucers, and cake plates. Hardly any wear to the decoration and the gold is like new. The four cups have the individual floral decoration inside and on the backsides of the cups as well as the backs of the larger pieces.

From what I can determine their decorators worked in free hand without the ease of stencils. Since Gyokuzan made blanks for many others it would be rather easy to find two cups and saucers the same size and with similar or close decoration to complete the set. I looked myself and saw multiple examples that would work. Even the tea pots are the same form, etc. Chin Jukan factory made much of the blanks for the other well known and prized Satsuma makers like Yabu Meizan and Kinkozan.

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