Featured large satsuma piece

Hi folks

picked this up today from my mates house clearance shop, its a pretty damn cool piece, never seen one like it before,

the main body is in great nick but the lid is the problem (20)

it showed enough signs of it being a nice piece though and couldn't pass on it

love those squared off handles, and nicely painted as well

measures 15 inches tall

totally unmarked

i'd guess at late 19thc by the quality of it?

hopefully i can work some milliput magic on the lid, tidy it right up at least.

any thoughts or info appreciated

 

Love it-Now you just need to determine if in excellent shape it's worth two-hundred or a grand ?

 

This is in the style of a Meiji-era Satsuma. I use the word “style”loosely as it very well can be of the period and very well is. Others will have a better eye than eye

the rope decoration and palette like the sky blue, is not familiar to me in the Japanese Meiji, kind of has a Christmas feel, and again others will know better. Perhaps euro chinoiserie?

Here’s a few to really confuse you in value. *sorry*
https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/satsuma-covered-urn-with-foo-dog-finial-215-c-2fa4cb489a

https://bid.conceptgallery.com/onli...japanese-satsuma-porcelain-meiji-koro-6585366


https://www.chairish.com/product/49...e-meiji-satsuma-covered-urn-vase-with-foo-dog

 

thanks Marko, yeah i'd be pretty surprised if it wasn't 19thc japanese, but agree those rope parts are odd

looking at other examples i think theres more gilding loss than i thought, the legs for example should be decorated

 

Did I mention, I would have jumped on it at first sight…

 

I've seen rope decor on satsuma style items before now. I purchased one once. It was cracked so didn't fetch much. I did wonder at the time if they were typical or not. It was more orange and blue like imari. I will still have the photos somewhere but where...

 

A Satsuma style koro (Japanese censer). Looks 19th century to me, but Satsuma style ceramics are not my forte.

So have I.

 

seems alot of 'style' being mentioned,so are we thinking not pottery, i'm flabbergasted as it sure looks pottery to me ?

 

Pretty sure that it’s a Meiji period piece. It’s well painted. With the damage I think it would sell for around £50 if it came up for auction locally.

 

thanks John, yes the damage to the lid is a killer, but couldn't pass on it. i'm thinking about £75 online so we will see how it goes

 

Even with a better repair on the lid, I wonder if you wouldn't have more success without that lid?

 

I think people are doubting it's satsumaness not it's potteryness.

 

Heres the lump I found years ago anyway.

 

can't think what else it would be then squire

 

yeah i have considered that whit, the lid damage is enough to put off the majority, ill have a go at fixing it up though

could always try and find something else as well but might take a while

 

Your little piece is Imari porcelain. Charlie's does appear to be Satsuma pottery.

 

Yes I agree. My memory is a little fuzzy. It's five years since I last saw it.

 

Pity about the lid damage but it still completes the piece. Aesthetically it would have been nicer without the rope detail (well to me)

 

I have a somewhat similar example of a large white satsuma censer. Although I don’t see functional vents/holes in your lid. I guess you’d need to leave yours open. Satsuma pottery typically being cream/beige, I find these interesting examples.

My lid is also damaged unfortunately. I think the quality of mine is a bit better. That said I think you’ve underestimated yours a bit at 75. Satsuma has a pretty strong collector base in my experience. I’d try double your suggested price even with the damaged lid. Unless you really want a quick sale. Yours seems to be in an archaic Chinese form more than a traditional Japanese form. Japan borrowed heavily from China when it came to this type of thing anyways I believe. I don’t love the rope on yours but I don’t mind it too much either. It’s pretty well done. Yours is a cool find!

 

thanks Jd, thats an interesting looking one indeed, like that fluid organic shape with the blushing.

love the elephant as well. they are chalk and cheese really aren't they, but still look from the same period