A superb matched pair of Japanese Meiji period Satsuma dishes of finely potted shallow form, painted to an exceptional standard and signed Shuzan (??) for the Yasuda company. The slight differences in diameter show that each dish was individually thrown, while the decoration has been conceived as an intentional pair.Each dish centres on a lively spring procession beneath blossoming cherry trees, with elegant ladies, attendants and children moving across a river landscape. Below runs a smaller interior vignette with lacquer stands, tea utensils and folded textiles, a quiet counterpoint to the animated outdoor scene. The painter has used a sophisticated palette of soft enamels and dense raised gilt, building up patterns on the robes almost like embroidery.The wide brocade-style border combines folding fans, kimono fragments and floral reserves � peony, chrysanthemum and prunus � set against finely textured gold grounds. The reverse shows the classic creamy crackled glaze associat...