Satsuma Moriage Serving Bowl with Chinese Chop Mark

Chinese Satsuma sometimes is erroneously described by on-line sellers as ware made in the 1950's, 60's, or 70's. They may 'date' their items to try to give them the cache of being 'vintage' and thus to encourage potential appeal to more buyers. But those year dates are unsupported by historical fact. Items bearing this particular mark were not made prior to the 1980's. All are by definition, contemporary copies, rather than 'authentic' or 'old.'

It only became profitable to create Satsuma-like items in China and export them to the West after two events had taken place:

1. The post-WWII Cold War period ended (October 1,1949 - July, 1979). This allowed by the 1980's the eventual reopening of commercial trade between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Western countries.

2. Authentic old Japanese Satsuma pottery rose significantly in value and the advent of the on-line sales made that value factor apparent to a wide audience.

Real Satsuma is Japanese-made pottery, it was never originally made in China or anywhere else, only Japan. If a mark or paper label indicates an item was made anywhere other than Japan, it cannot be Satsuma, even if a maker's mark actually says, 'Satsuma.' A word added to a piece of pottery cannot make it something it is not.

The mark seen on this particular item makes very clear the country where it was made. But not all pieces of new fake Chinese-made Satsuma will have such an obvious indication of not being authentic Japanese Satsuma. Search this shop to see examples of other items and marks, some of which are much less overt. Compare decorative techniques and designs, as many are virtually identical even though the form of the item onto which they are applied may differ.

Measures 8 1/4 inches in diameter and 3 3/8 inches deep.

Item ID: 2007RP000314