Sozan for the Kinkozan workshop (circa 1900)A large and fine Satsuma vase
Meiji era (1868-1912), early 20th century
The tall cylindrical vase tapering to the foot and decorated in polychrome enamels and gilt with areas of moriage, with two large panels, the obverse painted with numerous species of birds flocking to an ancient pine tree by a pond before a thatched-roof cottage, the reverse with visitors before the main gate of a temple, the various buildings surrounded by distant mountains and mist, the panels signed Sozan and Sozan ga, the surrounding area decorated with ferns on a ground of rich chocolate brown, the sides with rectangular panels of trailing wisteria on a navy ground, the rim decorated with tightly scrolling chrysanthemum scroll, signed on the underside in overlapping card-poem reserves surrounded with blossoming peonies Dai Nihon Kyoto Awata Kinkozan tsukuru Sozan (Made by Kinkozan of Awata in Kyoto, Great Japan, [painted by] Sozan)
15 3/4in (40cm) high