description Satsuma Ware Overview
Satsuma ware is a category of Japanese ceramics associated with the former Satsuma domain, now part of Kagoshima Prefecture. Early examples were comparatively restrained, while much of the ware made for export in the 19th century used cream-colored earthenware, fine crackled glaze, intricate overglaze enamels, and gilding. Export pieces commonly depict figures, flowers, landscapes, and densely arranged decorative motifs.
insights Ranking position
Satsuma Ware ranks #62 of 295 in the Pottery ranking, behind Arabia Finland, ahead of Nymphenburg Porcelain.
help Satsuma Ware FAQ
Why does export Satsuma ware have a crackled cream glaze?
Many 19th-century export pieces used a pale earthenware body covered with a deliberately finely crackled glaze. Painters then added dense overglaze decoration, often including figures, flowers, and gold.
Was all Satsuma ware made in Kagoshima?
No. The tradition originated in the former Satsuma domain, but the popularity of the style led workshops elsewhere, including Kyoto, to make ceramics sold as Satsuma ware.
How is early Satsuma pottery different from Meiji export Satsuma?
Earlier Satsuma includes restrained functional and tea-related wares, sometimes with much simpler decoration. Meiji-era export pieces were often more elaborate and were designed for international exhibitions and foreign buyers.
Does the word Satsuma identify a pottery technique or a place?
It originally identifies the Satsuma domain in southern Kyushu, now largely within Kagoshima Prefecture. Over time, the name also became a broad commercial label for cream-glazed, richly decorated Japanese earthenware.
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