This vase with a crackled porcelain lid is a beautiful example of enamel decoration. With gold highlights, in the refined style of Japanese Satsuma porcelain. Its yellowish-cream hue highlights the richness of its meticulously painted decorations.
The body features two large, symmetrical cartouches: scenes of birds in flight, moving among flowers. The contours are enriched with varied geometric patterns, playing on a variety of shapes and colors – red, orange, black and green enamels – which accentuate the depth and elegance of the piece.
The hand-applied gold highlights the wings, petals and contours, creating a striking contrast between the neutral background and the brilliance of the decoration.
The underside bears the inscription "Made in China ," the number 36, and a red painted logo, indicating Chinese manufacture directly inspired by Japanese Satsuma art. The craftsmanship remains remarkably refined, comparable to productions intended for export.
The term Satsuma refers to a former province in southern Japan (present-day Kagoshima Prefecture), where Korean potters, who settled in the late 16th century following the Japanese invasion of Korea (1592-1598), gave rise to this tradition. Presented at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1867, Satsuma porcelain won a gold medal and captivated all of Europe. This enthusiasm contributed to the rise of Japonisme, a movement that had a lasting influence on Western artists.
Although production declined after the 1920s, the legacy remains alive through pieces like this one, which combine decorative refinement and meticulous craftsmanship.
Height: 30 cm
Diameter: 12 to 17 cm
Material: porcelain, enamels, gilding
Origin: China
