How do I identify a Satsuma vase?

Satsuma vases typically feature a distinctive cream-coloured crackle glaze underneath intricate hand-painted designs enriched with gold leaf. Many examples originate from the Meiji period and showcase traditional Japanese figurative or floral motifs.

Were these vases used for flowers?

While many were made as functional vessels for display or holding stems, others served purely as decorative ornaments. Spill vases had the specific domestic duty of holding wooden spills near a fireplace.

How do I care for painted glass?

Painted glass requires gentle dusting with a soft, dry cloth to protect the delicate enamel and gilt decoration. Keep these pieces out of direct sunlight to prevent the pigments and colours from fading over time.

What is the difference between porcelain and earthenware?

Porcelain is fired at higher temperatures, resulting in a vitreous, non-porous body that is often translucent when held to light. Earthenware uses a more porous clay body that requires an opaque glaze, such as tin-glaze on Delftware, to hold liquids.