Is Satsuma Pottery Or Porcelain?

Satsuma ware (薩摩焼, Satsuma-yaki) is a type of Japanese pottery originally from Satsuma Province, southern Kyūshū.

How can I tell if my Satsuma is porcelain?

All Satsuma ware is earthenware. You can tell it from porcelain by the weight. Pottery is heavier and won’t have the eggshell glow when held up to the light and won’t resonate like porcelain does when tapped. If the decoration looks like Satsuma but it is porcelain, then it is likely Kutani.

Is Satsuma a pottery?

Satsuma ware is a type of earthenware pottery originating from the Satsuma province in Southern Kyūshū, Japan’s third largest island. Collecting Japanese satsuma ware is accessible to many, but starting a collection can be daunting.

Is Satsuma pottery worth anything?

A pair of vases comparable to yours recently sold for around $75 and a twenty-three inch Royal Satsuma floor vase sold in the same range. I would place a value of $30 to $40 on your vase.

What is Satsuma made of?

The first pottery with this name was founded in the 17th century, in Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan by the Prince of Satsuma. All pieces from this time were all made of brown clay. In the late 18th century clay from Kagoshima Prefecture was brought to Awata (near Kyoto) to make Satsuma type ceramics there.

What is Japanese porcelain called?

Thus Arita porcelain is also often known as Imari. Arita ware was the first porcelain product in Japanese history, and strongly influenced European ceramics.

Is Satsuma pottery made in China?

Satsuma pottery is from Japan. It was made in the 1860s and was sometimes purchased by American visitors to Japan and brought home.

How do you identify Japanese porcelain marks?

Signatures are usually followed by a suffix, for example Sei, tsukuru or saku all meaning “made”, or Ga, Dzu or Fude meaning “painted” or “drawn”. Then there are place names, Satsuma, Kutani, Seto etc. To read these requires references such as a good Japanese/English dictionary such as Nelsons.

How can you tell if pottery has no markings?

One way to check if unmarked pottery is antique or faux is by checking the bottom of the piece. The bottom has an unglazed area, revealing the type of clay used on the piece. Clay used to make antique pieces is old and dusty compared to the one used on faux pieces.

What is Chinese Satsuma?

Satsuma is a Japanese ware. It’s crackle-glazed and cream-colored with multicolor decorations. It was first made in the 1600s in the Satsuma area of Japan. Today it’s also made in potteries near Kyoto. Any piece of pottery marked “Satsuma” in English probably dates from the 1970s or later.

How do you read Satsuma marks?

The two characters to the right read “Satsuma”. The bottom left is usually written as “zan”, rather than “yama”. Taisho period (1912-1926). On some Japanese Satsuma wares the thee kanji characters 保土田 occurs in the mark.

What is the difference between Moriage and Satsuma?

Moriage is a slip decoration of raised enamels. It occurs on Satsuma wares as early as circa 1890 but tends to be more carefully applied on early pieces. Moriage also seems to be limited to pieces made outside of the Satsuma domain while being typical for Kyoto Satsuma ware.

What is the best Japanese porcelain?

9 Most Notable Styles Of Japanese Ceramics

• Arita ware, Saga Prefecture.
• Seto ware, Aichi Prefecture.
• Mino ware, Gifu Prefecture.
• Takoname ware, Aichi Prefecture.
• Shigaraki ware, Shiga Prefecture.
• Bizen ware, Okayama Prefecture.
• Karatsu ware, Saga Prefecture.
• Kutani ware, Ishikawa Prefecture.

What is Japan’s finest pottery?

Bizen-yaki (備前焼) is a form of pottery created in the area around the city of Bizen, in Okayama prefecture. Bizen ware is the creation of one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns (Bizen, Echizen, Seto, Shigaraki, Tamba, Tokoname). It is one of the most outstanding Japanese kilns with a tradition that endures to this day.

When was porcelain marked Japan?

For porcelain collectors, this makes dating your piece really easy. If your piece is marked “Nippon,” then it was made and imported between 1891 and 1921. If it is marked “Japan”, then your piece was made and imported after 1921.

What does Satsuma mean in Japan?

satsuma. / (sætˈsuːmə) / noun. a small citrus tree, Citrus nobilis var. unshiu, cultivated, esp in Japan, for its edible fruit.

Is Japanese porcelain worth anything?

Founded by Chuji Fukagawa in 1894, the company has always been known for its high-quality porcelain and has served as a purveyor for the Japanese Imperial Household since 1910. At auction, it might sell for $600-$900. In a shop specializing in Japanese porcelains, it might be priced at $1,500-$2,500.

What do the letters mean on bottom of pottery?

There are marks that indicate a specific mold called a mold number. These numbers often look like dates such as 1953 or 1789. It is rare that a piece of pottery will have a date stamped or embossed into its base. If a number looks like a date or a year, it is most likely a mold number.

Are items marked Made in Japan valuable?

These pieces usually were marked “Made in Occupied Japan,” “Made in Japan” or simply “Japan.” The products–including souvenirs, lamps, dinnerware and toys–eventually became collectible. From what we’ve seen in dealer catalogues, however, their value is relatively low, with few items approaching the $50 level.

How can I tell if something is porcelain?

Pottery is opaque; light does shine through a piece of porcelain. Pottery breaks in a line. Porcelain is thinner, lighter and more stain-resistant. If you hold a pottery plate in one hand and a porcelain plate in the other, you will find the porcelain is colder and the pottery is heavier.

What is the most valuable pottery to collect?

Most Valuable American Pottery

• Arequipa Art Pottery.
• Brouwer Art Pottery.
• Dedham Art Pottery.
• Fulper Art Pottery.
• Grand Feu Art Pottery.
• Susan Frackelton Art Pottery.