Meiji Kinkozan Kyoto Satsuma Vase in Cobalt Blue & Gilt Moriage, 1895

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Description

Meiji-period Kyoto Satsuma vase by the Kinkozan workshop, circa 1895, executed in a bold cobalt-blue ground with rich gilding and … Read more Meiji-period Kyoto Satsuma vase by the Kinkozan workshop, circa 1895, executed in a bold cobalt-blue ground with rich gilding and finely painted bird-and-blossom reserves. The colour pairing is classic and highly usable in contemporary interiors: the deep blue reads almost architectural, while the gold brings warmth and light.

This is a high-finish example. The decoration sits over dense moriage pointillism—countless tiny raised dots of enamel that create a subtle relief and a sparkling, “granulated” surface when viewed under directional light. It is a slow, skilled technique and one of the clearest indicators of better Kyoto Satsuma work.

Base mark: square iron-red seal with gilt characters 錦光山造 (Kinkōzan zō), meaning “made by Kinkozan”. The seal style, palette and glaze quality align with late-19th-century Kyoto Satsuma production (1890s).

Condition: Excellent. Minimal wear to rim gilding only. Checked under UV light: no cracks, repairs, restoration or overpainting detected. Footrim with normal kiln grit and handling from age.

Ideal as a single accent piece on a shelf or side table, or grouped with other ceramics for a layered, collected look—compact in scale, but visually commanding.

Dimensions:
Height 12.5 cm; diameter 9 cm.
Weight: 219 g.

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