Antique Kyoto Satsuma Incense Vase Gold Gilt Enamel

A gorgeous, elegant and highly detailed Meiji Period Kyoto Satsuma Incense Vase with the Shimazu Clan Crest. The vase is signed by the artist which might possibly be Meizan. The vase depicts 30 men with some holding scrolls (open and closed) with one man as the focus. They could perhaps be immortals or more likely scholars. Religious and mythological figures have always been a feature of Chinese and Japanese ceramics often depicting gods, holy men, ascetics and the heroes and incidents of Chinese and Japanese legend. The detail here is profound and intricate. Among the men there are pagodas and ornate designs in high and low relief consisting of gold gilt and colored enamel. There are two dragons embracing the vase one in the body and the other in much higher relief swirling towards the top of the vase resting on the lid. Again the detail is stunning down to the dragon’s teeth and tongue. As you can the base has two Shimazu Clan Crests one on either side resting on three scrolled feet. I was able to find two very similarly decorated vases as this one on page 159 and 160 of Japanese Export Ceramics 1860-1920 by Schiffer.

Measurements: The vase measures 11” at highest with a 4 ½”overall diameter.