Lot description

Yabu Meizan (1853-1934)

A large and highly important Satsuma presentation vase
Meiji era (1868-1912), early 20th century
The square-sided vase finished with a slightly tapered cylindrical neck and decorated in polychrome enamels and gilt with four panels raised in relief containing scenes of three Japanese macaques in a blossoming cherry tree, a winter landscape, an autumn landscape, and groups of people enjoying chrysanthemums in bloom, the edges of the panels painted with repeated dots within circles and the surrounding areas decorated with scrolling vines and flowers, the shoulder with scattered chrysanthemums encircling the neck painted with lozenges containing stylized dragons above a keyfret band, the rim with formal lappets and chrysanthemum among vines, signed in gilt on the underside Yabu Meizan in a double square reserve; with a fitted hardwood stand, probably original to the vase
14 1/2in (36.7cm) high (not including base)

Footnotes

Yabu Meizan (1853-1934), the most successful of all manufacturers of Satsuma ware, opened his workshop in Osaka in 1880 and first garnered critical acclaim in 1885 when he won a bronze medal at the Fourteenth Kyoto Exhibition. From 1888 he concentrated on the export market, particularly the United States, producing wares decorated with Chinese or Buddhist subjects, but during the 1890s he began to favor native Japanese themes. Throughout the first decade of the twentieth century, Yabu focused his energy on the great international expositions, especially Paris (1900), St Louis (1904), and London (1910), visiting each venue and playing a major organizational role. It is highly likely that the present ambitious lot, an outstanding example of the mature Yabu style, was intended for one of these influential global events.

Quoted from the lot page, © Bonhams. Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 2017-09-13, lot 1286 ↗