"Japanese Miniature Satsuma Vase, 19th Century"
Japanese Satsuma miniature vase, 19th century. This is a very beautiful Satsuma vase decorated with a dragon. A Satsuma vase is a piece of traditional Japanese ceramic originating from Satsuma Province (present-day Kagoshima) in the late 16th century. It is known for: its ivory-colored crackle glaze; its hand-painted decorations in rich, golden colors; and scenes of samurai, geishas, flowers, and landscapes. Satsuma vases experienced a considerable boom during the Meiji era (1868-1912) and were often produced for export to Europe and the United States. Today, they are prized as decorative art objects and collector's items, especially antique models with refined details.