A LARGE AND IMPRESSIVE JAPANESE SATSUMA BOWL BY RYUZAN

MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY

The deep U-shaped body raised on a short foot and decorated in gilt and polychrome enamels, the well delicately painted with a kaleidoscope of hundreds of butterflies fluttering all over the surface, the inner rim with a band of key fret and shippo-tsunagi cash to the reverse, the outside with a continuous decoration of many flowers, chrysanthemum, peony, hibiscus and irises above a swarm of insects including crickets, cicadas, flies and fireflies, a band of lappets and further shippo-tsunagi above the foot, the base signed Dai Nihon Kyoro fu Ryuzan tsukuru, 23cm dia.

Provenance: an English private collection of Satsuma wares, Wiltshire. Purchased from Christie's London, 7th June 2000, lot 273; a copy of the original invoice is available.