Lot description

SATSUMA
A private collection
(Lots 412-453)

A large Satsuma charger

Painted by Sozan for the Kinkozan Company, Meiji Period
Finely decorated in enamels and gilt, the centre depicting Minamoto no Yoshitsune and his retainers on the shores of a lake, gathered in front of a war curtain decorated with Yoshitsune’s sasarindo (bamboo grass and gentian) mon (crest) drawn across the territory, all waiting to board an approaching ship that will take them to Ezo, the retainers carrying pole arms and war banners, blowing in the strong wind; signed Sozan for the painting in a gourd-shaped cartouche on the right and inscribed Kinkozan kore o tsukuru and the title Yoshitsune Ezo shimawatari no zu (Picture of Yoshitsune Crossing over to Ezo by Ship) in a banner on the bottom left, the reverse signed with seal Kinkozan zo; with tomobako titled Awata-yaki: kazarizara, Yoshitsune-kyo gunsen no zu (Awata ware: a display dish with a picture of Yoshitsune with battleships), the inside of the lid signed Kinkozan saku with seal Kin. 39cm (15 1/8in) diam. (2).

Footnotes

薩摩　金彩色絵義経蝦夷渡嶋図飾皿　素山画、錦光山作　明治時代

The design of Yoshitsune crossing over to Ezo is taken from a triptych print by Utagawa Yoshitora (fl.circa 1836-1887), published by Aritaya Seiemon circa 1843-1847. The subject depicted here is an alternative story to the end of a tragic hero, Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159-1189) and his retainers. In his last battle in the Koromo River in Hiraizumi in 1189, he was attacked by an army of Fujiwara no Yasuhira and committed suicide. However, the legend says they managed to escape to Ezo (present day Hokkaido) where they were worshiped by Ainus as Gikyo Daimyojin (Great God Yoshitsune).

Quoted from the lot page, © Bonhams. Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 2014-05-15, lot 445 ↗