An antique Japanese Satsuma pottery??? Satsuma-yaki decorative low relief moulded cabinet plate with a lobed or scalloped rim, naturalistically hand painted and extensively gilded with Immortals or Lucky Gods, each with a halo or nimbus. They are all depicted as a group set within a landscape with the sea and mountains and hills in the background. Some collectors may call this, heads with moons or the thousand faces design although there are only sixteen faces painted. The rim of the plate has an iron red and gilded border with a stylised wave pattern design. We think that some of the Asian Gods from Mythology illustrated are as follows: Hotei is sat at the front with two children at his feet, he symbolizes contentment and happiness. In the centre is Bishamonten wearing crown armour, he protects against evil or illness and is a bringer of wealth Benzaiten, the only goddess of the lucky gods, she is Goddess of beauty and arts, from the Hindu-Buddhist pantheon of India. Moulded in high relief on the left is Bukan with his tigers head at his feet behind him. His ability to tame the tiger represents the power of his knowledge. The other relief moulded deity dressed in ornate black, red and gold coloured robes and sat on a cloud is Kokuzo Bosatsu (Akasagarbha) he is regarded as one of the eight great bodhisattvas. His name can be translated as “boundless space treasury” or “void store” as his wisdom is said to be boundless as space itself. One at the back at the top is holding up a Nyoihoju or wish fulfilling jewel we think he is Jizo Bosatsu. The base of the plate is marked in gold on an iron red rectangle with the Shimazu?? Family crest or mon of a cross with a circle. This clan or family originally ruled the Satsuma province. Below the mon is a gilded mark of?? Satsuma ware was made in the Satsuma Province??? Satsuma-no Kuni which was an old province of Japan that is now the western half of Kagoshima Prefecture on the island of Kyushu in Japan. In the Meiji period a number of regions made similar articles in the Satsuma pottery style. This item is Japanese Satsuma export pottery??? The plate is approximately 1 1/2 inches (3.8 cm) high, 10 inches (25.4 cm) diameter. It weighs a total of 949 grammes unpacked. It is in good antique condition, the body has the usual crazing to the glaze and some minor discolouration to the back. There is an old crack to the top left on the rim behind Benazaitens head, in line with the hills in the background. Which has had on old repair there are signs of overpainting to the back. There are no other chips cracks nor restoration. There is some minor wear to the enamel and gilding particularly on the rim and the high points of the tigers head and the cloud seat of Kokuzo Bosatsu. There is a previous owners mark to the back in invisble marker only seen with UV blacklight. Please see the images. The price takes the condition into account. This is a highly collectable and decorative item and great for display on its own or as part of a collection antique Japanese pottery or Satsuma-yaki. Wikipedia – List of Japanese Deities. This item is in the category “Antiques\Asian/Oriental Antiques\Japanese\Plates”. The seller is “jockjen” and is located in this country: GB. This item can be shipped to North, South, or Latin America, all countries in Europe, all countries in continental Asia, Australia.
- Item length: 25.4 cm
- Primary Material: Porcelain/ Pottery
- Antique: Yes
- Product: Plate/Tray
- Material: pottery
- Item height: 3.8 cm
- Region of Origin: Japanese
- Colour: Red, black, gold, peach
- Brand: Satsuma
- Sub-Type: Relief moulded plate
- Type: Relief Moulded Satsuma Plate
- Item width: 25.4 cm
- Original/Repro: Antique Original
- Age: 1850-1899
- Country of Origin: Japan