Large Meiji Satsuma-Style Centerpiece Bowl With Shishi Lion-Dog & Figural Panels, C. 1890

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Description

An extraordinary late Meiji-period Satsuma-style centerpiece bowl, hand-painted in a vivid polychrome palette with elaborate interior and exterior decoration. Dating … Read more An extraordinary late Meiji-period Satsuma-style centerpiece bowl, hand-painted in a vivid polychrome palette with elaborate interior and exterior decoration. Dating to circa 1890–1900, the bowl features a scalloped rim and richly detailed scenes depicting geisha in garden landscapes, a mythological shishi lion-dog, and intricate floral scrollwork in crimson, cobalt, and raised gilt.

Measuring over 15 inches in diameter, the bowl was created for export at the height of Japonisme and exemplifies the opulent aesthetic prized by Western collectors of the era. The use of gosu blue, a dense overglaze cobalt pigment, alongside theatrical figural compositions and lavish gilding, reflects the influence of Kyoto and Yokohama workshop production.

This is not a utilitarian form, but a statement piece—designed to command attention as a centerpiece on a dining table, entry console, or collector’s display. Despite its scale and age, the condition is superb, with no observed chips, cracks, or restorations, and only minimal wear to the gilding consistent with age. See less