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Satsuma
porcelain has been traced to 17th century Japan,
taking its name from the southern province of Kyushu Island.
Interestingly enough, this type of pottery was actually
developed by Korean potters.
You will hear Satsuma referred to alternatively as
"pottery" and "porcelain" but it is
actually somewhere in between.
This type of porcelain is produced at lower
temperatures than porcelain but higher temperatures than you
would typically use to make pottery.
Following
Japan's invasion of Korea in the 17th century, the
Prince of Satsuma brought potters from Korea, where they
established a now famous kiln for making pottery.
The ongoing patronage of the prince's family, the
Shimazu family was the daimyos (feudal lords) at the time that
resulted in the great popularity of Satsuma porcelain.
Production
of Satsuma pottery is no longer limited to one area of Japan.
In fact, you will find three major yakis or kilns,
which includes a famous one in Kyoto.
Satsuma was and still is made from brown clay, and the
pottery today retains the cream colored body and crackled
gaze. Many pieces
include a trademark deep blue color, calls "Goso
blue". Experts
share that you can tell where a particular piece of Satsuma
pottery was made by certain characteristics.
For
example, the Satsuma that is made in Kyoto will be lighter in
body color, which was close to the color of cream whereas the
Satsuma made in Kyushu is darker in tone.
All Satsuma pottery has what is called 'crackle', which
are fines lines crisscrossing the pottery in a random matrix
pattern, the result of the glazing and kiln firing process.
Satsuma pottery made in Kyushu has more pronounced
crackle that is darker.
The
Shimzu family introduced the world to their beautiful
earthenware pieces at the Paris International Exposition of
1867. Attracted
by their fine craftsmanship and gorgeous designs, Satsuma
porcelain was an instant hit and their debut at the Paris
International Exposition created a demand for the pottery in
Europe. It was
not long before a strong export market developed.
Old
Satsuma pottery retains great value and antiques are highly
prized. If you
are shopping for antique Satsuma porcelain, be sure to consult
and expert to make sure you are truly getting what you paid
for! The
first Korean potters made simple but elegant clay pottery that
was used in the highly structured Japanese tea ceremony.
The pieces tended to be small, which is why they were
used as incense burners and boxes, jars for water, and vases
for use in the Ikebana, the Japanese art of floral
arrangement.
The
first vessels were characterized by a cream-colored body,
covered by a glaze, usually yellow in color.
The potters of Satsuma began using decorative
approaches to their art in response to competition from Imari
porcelain. Imari
porcelain was also made on the island of Kyushu, in the Arita
area. Near the
end of the 18th century, tot wanting to lose
consumers to the Imari potters, a famous Japanese potter named
Ninsei learning the Imari techniques.
He in turn taught the Satsuma artists how to decorate
their plain pottery using different colors of enamel as well
as gold.
Satsuma
porcelain of today displays strong, thickly applied colors.
Popular patterns originally included floral designs,
geometric patterns as the ever popular phoenix and dragon
designs. With the
advent of the 19th century, landscapes and
life-like figures became more common.
The
characteristics of the body are sometimes helpful in
determining where a piece of Satsuma was made. The products of
Kyoto often show a lighter creamy-white body whereas the
Satsuma from Kyushu bears a somewhat darker tone and stronger
crackle lines in the glaze. |
The
tea ceremony is a very special event in Japanese culture.
The host spends days going over every detail to make sure
that the ceremony will be perfect. There are various
styles of tea ceremonies and it is recognized that every
human encounter is a singular occasion that will never
recur again in exactly the same way, and so every aspect
of the tea ceremony is savored.