Small Satsuma Vase, Meiji (1868-1912)

Ref: W599

Archive item - not for sale

Small Satsuma vase, Meiji (1868-1912), of square sectional form with tapering foot, the four sides decorated in polychrome enamels and gilt with an assortment of flowers including kiku (chrysanthemum), hinagiku (daisy) and boke (flowering quince); trailing wisteria with two perching akahara (brown-headed thrush); further wisteria and a pair of komadori (bush robin); the final side with a scene of ishidoro (traditional stone lanterns) in the grounds of a shrine, its gabled roofs visible through pine trees; all within a gilt leaf-pattern border, the shoulder with chrysanthemum-head brocade pattern, the everted rim with a collar of alternating petals in blue floral and red overlapping petal diaper ground, the base marked Ogurusu (小栗栖) Togami/Koshin (戸神)

Dimensions:

Height: 13cm. (5 1/8in

Condition:

Condition: Rim damaged and neatly restored.

Notes:

Stone lanterns, or 'Toro' were initially installed in the gardens of Buddhist temples to illuminate pathways, but by the Heian period (794-1185) were also used in the grounds of Shinto shrines and tea gardens. Their shape is said to represent the five sacred elements of Buddhist belief: chi (ground, the base), sui (water, represented by the sao, or column), ka (fire, the hibukoro section containing the flame), fu and ku (air and spirit, the curling roof and finial). Wisteria symbolises longevity in Japan, where there are celebrated vines said to be centuries old. Their flowers are commonly associated with journeys and so are traditionally given to newlyweds as an auspicious symbol of their new life together.