Satsuma Earthenware Flask, Meiji Period, Japan.

Earthenware bottle covered with finely crackled cream-colored glaze, decorated with figures in reserves on a background of 1000 flowers and a thousand butterflies, enamels and gold. Elegant and rare form. Note that some details are in silver, a metal rarely used by Satsuma artists, because the firing of silver nitrate is more random than that of gold, the metal being unstable at high temperatures, moreover it blackens with time which for some artists was prohibitive and sublime for others. Below, 3 beautiful marks of the artist(s), 2 carefully enameled, the third incised in the clay, which is also rarely found on Satsuma earthenware, was it the mark of the potter particularly skillful to accomplish on the wheel such a difficult shape to achieve? We have not taken the time to research who these artists are, the quality of the work being sufficient as a criterion of appreciation for us, but we can do it on request. Height: 148mm Diameter: 160mm Japan late 19th century. Probably Kyoto kilns. Perfect condition.