Oriental Satsuma Decorative Egg from China

So called ‘Chinese Satsuma’ only began to appear on the market after authentic old Japanese Satsuma began to rise in value. In other words, until it became more popular and valuable, no one outside of Japan seemed interested in marking items ‘Satsuma.’

Authentic Japanese Satsuma pottery distinguishes itself with a finely crackled transparent glaze on a beige or creamy ground. Fine craqueleur of the glaze was done purposefully at manufacture for decorative effect. While early Satsuma may bear little or no decoration, the nineteenth and early twentieth century ware that many of today’s collectors seek was decorated with gold and hand painted artwork.

Like other examples already listed in this shop this item lacks the artistic quality of real Satsuma pottery. The surface decoration is primarily of the transfer print type, with gilt and other colors afterward hastily and carelessly applied to the pre-printed design. This piece was decorated primarily, if not entirely, by machine, not by the hand of an artist.

Remember, printing the word 'Satsuma' on a an item cannot make it something it is not. Satsuma is and always has been entirely Japanese pottery. It was never originally made in China or anywhere else, only Japan. If a mark or paper label indicates such an item as this was made anywhere other than Japan, it cannot be Satsuma. The mark seen on this particular item, with the word 'Satsuma' printed in red in a red rectangle, is a Chinese factory mark.

Item ID: 2007RP00096