Signed Satsuma Vase with Women in Tea Ceremony
You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item
When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.
- Cartouche - An ornamental panel in the form of of a shield, oval or rectangular scroll with curling edges. It may be carved into the back of a chair or the top of a sideboard, or present on a piece of silver or jewellery, and contain the initials of the original owner, heraldic symbols, or some other inscription, such as the details of a presentation.
In ceramics the term defines the central area of a vase or similar with a decorative border in one of the shapes above, into which a decorative scene or figures have been painted. - Gilding - Gilding is a method of ornamentation whereby a thin sheet of gold metal is applied to items made of wood, leather, ceramics, glass and silver for decorative purposes.
For furniture including mirrors, the sheet of gold is usually applied over a coating of gesso. Gesso is a mixture of plaster of Paris and gypsum mixed with water and then applied to the carved wooden frames of mirrors and picture frames as a base for applying the gold leaf. After numerous coats of gesso have been applied, allowed to dry and then sanded a coat of "bole", a usually red coloured mixture of clay and glue is brushed on and allowed to dry, after which the gold leaf is applied. Over time parts of the gilding will rub off so the base colour can be seen. In water gilding, this was generally a blue colour, while in oil gilding, the under layer was often yellow. In Victorian times, gilders frequently used red as a pigment beneath the gold leaf.
Metal was often gilded by a process known as fire gilding. Gold mixed with mercury was applied and heated, causing the mercury to evaporate, the long-term effect of which was to kill or disable the craftsman or woman from mercury poisoning. The pursuit of beauty has claimed many victims, not the least of which were the artists who made those pieces so highly sought after today.
This item has been included into following indexes:
- Japanese ceramics, item types - other 2,525
- Satsuma (Japan), item type
Visually similar items
A Chinese cloisonne vase, probably Republic Era, early to mid 20th century, a baluster shaped waisted vase with two oval reserves depicting birds in foliage settings on a blue ground, with exotic butterflies and flora in colours against a black ground and
Vintage Kutani porcelain vase with Geisha and floral decoration, rain mark to base, height 12 cm approx
Satsuma vase with Komainu on the shoulders, decorated with two panels depicting samurai and an outdoor scene, bordered by flowers and geometric designs on clear ground, signed 'Fukubezo Satsumayaki'. Height 37 cm
Satsuma vase heavily gilded and decorated with nine panels of Samurai and Geishas. Signature stamp to base. Height 15 cm