Meiji Period Japanese Satsuma Footed Bowl by Hododa, Late 19th Century

A Japanese Satsuma earthenware footed bowl of the highest quality, Meiji period, late 19th century, bearing the mark of the Hododa house of Yokohama. The deep bowl sits on a flared pedestal foot framed by wavy relief-moulded borders, and the rim is finished with a raised border of large gilt beads. The cream glaze has a fine, even crackle. Overglaze enamels, gold and moriage raised enamel cover the exterior, the interior and the foot.

A cobalt band beneath the rim carries a gold zigzag of triangles, each hatched with hair-fine gilt lines. Around the body, cobalt panels of gilt maple leaves on stylised waves alternate with cream reserves. One reserve holds a lakeside landscape with pines, gilt-roofed houses, misty mountains and reeds flowering in raised white enamel dots. Another holds chrysanthemums and peonies, each petal painted separately with graded colour and outlined in gold, with a small bird whose plumage is drawn feather by feather. A third holds lilies, ferns and autumn grasses beneath a pair of flying birds with flame-red breasts. Minute gold dots are scattered with remarkable evenness across the cream grounds, and every leaf of the two-tone foliage is outlined in gold.

The interior is framed by gold-dusted cobalt lappets. Wisteria in white, lilac-blue, green and crimson cascades over swallows and bands of golden mist. Below, a pheasant with a long barred gilt tail stands on a grey rock among peonies, flowering shrubs and turquoise-enamelled bamboo. Beside it, a lakeside view shows a vermilion pavilion on piles, thatched huts with gold roofs, two sails and gilt ripples. The cobalt foot is painted in gold with landscapes and flowers.

The base bears the Shimazu clan mon above the characters 保土田 (Hododa), in gold on an iron-red rectangular cartouche. Hododa was the Yokohama trading house of Takichi Hododa, which exported Satsuma worldwide from 1897. Its wares were usually signed only with the firm's name, so most of its decorators remain anonymous. Among the painters who worked for or with Hododa were Yoshinobu, Meizan, Masanobu, Taizan and Shozan. The artist of this bowl is not named, yet the delicacy of the drawing, the richness of the decoration and the precision of the gilding identify it as a work of the first rank.

Dimensions: Weight 753 g; Diameter 18 cm; Height 11.5 cm.

Condition: UV examination confirms that there is no restoration, repair or repainting. Excellent antique condition, with minor rubbing to the gilding on the cobalt areas.

Please study the accompanying photographs carefully as they form an integral part of this description. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them. The item will be shipped with full tracking and insurance. Shipping costs include handling, packaging and postage.