   Satsuma faience: vase Large vase of early period Satsuma faience, of cold tinted pate, covered with a bright waxy glaze, crackled. This vase is one of a pair which are amongst the grandest specimens of ceramic art that have come from Japan. Taking into consideration importance of size, richness of decoration, and accuracy of manipulation, these vases are the finest pieces of old Satsuma we know to exist; indeed, it would be difficult to imagine anything more refined and gorgeous possible in the entire scope of the potter's art. The painting on the vase is entirely executed in enamels of great brilliancy and purity of tint, showing a complete mastery over the difficulties in that branch of chemical science. Some of the enamels are opaque, but the greater number are semi-opaque and transparent; many beautiful results being obtained by the skilful glazing of the transparent over the opaque and semi-opaque colours. They are applied in many degrees of thickness, from the simple brown wash on the face of the figures to a high relief in the clouds, flowers, and several of the garments. Great richness is imparted to the whole by the lavish use of bright and mat gold round the base and neck, and throughout all the details of the elaborate subject on the body. This vase, with its companion, is stated to have been, until very lately, preserved in a Japanese temple; and, from the religious nature of its figure subject, it is reasonable to suppose that it was originally a votive offering, intended for altar decoration. A procession of saints across a bridge towards a distant gateway, probably the gateway of paradise, occupies the principal portion of the vase; and it is worthy of observation that each saint is invested with the ring nimbus in the same manner as obtains in Western art. Height: 25 inches. Lithograph, by Spiegel, published 1875. |
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