Categories
satsuma

Japanese Tea Set

One of the most common items to collect, if you are interested in Asian or Japanese antiques is a Japanese Tea Set. These delicate, fine items, made from pottery or porcelain are very valuable, collectible and desirable.

Green Tea was first used by religious groups back in the 13th century and since then, tea and tea ceremonies have become very important to Japanese people who still perform them today.  The cups were also used to drink Sake, another popular drink from Japanese culture.  Each of the items in the Japanese Tea Set are handled with great care and cleaned thoroughly before and after use. The ceremony is carried out with certain movements and processes performed at certain times.

The pottery or porcelain used to serve the tea to the guests is usually quite small. The cups or bowls that are used to drink from are only large enough to contain no more than 3-4 small mouthfuls of tea. Nothing like the mugs we use for our coffee. As with other Satsuma Pottery, the items will be highly decorated with images of Japanese life, flowers, wildlife or people. They also follow the same crackling glaze as seen on other items such as the popular Satsuma Vases, but also with a yellowish glaze to them.

If you are looking to purchase a Japanese or Satsuma Tea Set, one of the most important things to consider is the condition. Most tea sets were kept in a wooden box which is inlayed with silk or another soft cloth. Therefore, the items should be well cared for, clean and undamaged. Look out for hairline cracks or chips in the cups and bowls as these will be most likely.

You also need to remember that the Satsuma style was heavily copied throughout the world and therefore, not all "Satsuma" marked pieces are real antiques. Make sure you know what you are buying before you pay.  Another tell-tale sign to look for when buying any piece of Satsuma is that it should have a yellowish glaze to it.  Man,y more modern pieces, appear whiter than they should, which is a good sign that they have been produced using more recent technologies.

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Satsuma Stoneware 21 Piece Tea Set Cherry Blossoms Gilded late 1800s early 1900s
Satsuma Stoneware 21 Piece Tea Set Cherry Blossoms Gilded late 1800s early 1900s
$175.00
Antique Japanese Satsuma Tea signed Gyokuzan Meiji period 1868 1912
Antique Japanese Satsuma Tea signed Gyokuzan Meiji period 1868 1912
$599.99
13 Pc Antique Japanese Satsuma Dragon Teapot Tea Service Set Meiji Era Marked
13 Pc Antique Japanese Satsuma Dragon Teapot Tea Service Set Meiji Era Marked
$349.99

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Antique Rare Japanese Satsuma Tea Cup  Saucer
Antique Rare Japanese Satsuma Tea Cup Saucer
$99.99
Japan Satsuma Zhimazu Clan Mark Dragonware Tea Set Pot Sugar Creamer Plates
Japan Satsuma Zhimazu Clan Mark Dragonware Tea Set Pot Sugar Creamer Plates
$91.00
Vintage 17 Pc Japanese Satsuma Moriage Tea Set Red Gold Gilt Geisha Porcelain
Vintage 17 Pc Japanese Satsuma Moriage Tea Set Red Gold Gilt Geisha Porcelain
$125.00

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Antique Satsuma Tea Cup 1820 1830
Antique Satsuma Tea Cup 1820 1830
$500.00
Antique Satsuma Style Porcelain Tea Set Shimamura  Birds Flowers Beautiful
Antique Satsuma Style Porcelain Tea Set Shimamura Birds Flowers Beautiful
$199.99
Japanese Meiji Satsuma Porcelain 18pc Tea Set 1880 1912 RARE Mountain Floral
Japanese Meiji Satsuma Porcelain 18pc Tea Set 1880 1912 RARE Mountain Floral
$159.00
Categories
satsuma

Satsuma Antiques

a typical satsuma ginger jarThere are many types of Satsuma Antiques to collect. The Satsuma region of Japan produced many different styles and types of pottery over the last 200 years and much of it can be considered as valuable.  The delicate finish and fine craftsmanship often draw people to Japanese art and pieces and there is nothing more suited to being collected than this style of pottery.  Satsuma is often compared to Chinese porcelain, as they were both made with similar care and perfection.  However, I believe that the Chinese items to be more dull in color, compared to the bright and vivid imagery that you can find on Satsuma pieces.

Due to the quality and skill of the makers of these pieces, many have lasted several hundred years and people have found that they have been passed down through their families.  Many Satsuma pieces can also be bought at auction or you may even be lucky enough to pick one up at a local house sale or thrift shop.

Satsuma Vases are very popular among collectors. These vases, some as tall as 9 or 10 inches, are highly decorated with pictures of Japanese Geisha girls or images of wildlife. Used mainly for the display of flowers, a Satsuma Vase is a great addition to any collection of Japanese porcelain or pottery.  Other popular items include bowls and ginger jars, which seem to be very popular too.  The short ginger jar is widely associated with Japanese antiques and culture and therefore you may find more of these types of items if you are looking to buy.

Another popular Satsuma antique are the Satsuma Geisha Buttons. These tiny, delicately decorated earthenware buttons were worn on the clothing of Japanese Geisha girls. They are often hand painted with images of plants, flowers or animals.

There are many types of Satsuma Pottery you could collect. Always look for the tell tale crackled glaze, yellowish appearance and intricate and sometimes raised decoration.  It is also important that you turn the item over and check for the makers marking on the bottom before you buy.  The style of design was copied massively, all over the world, after it became popular, with many pieces being copied and mass produced.  This lead to there being printed markings written in English such as "Hand Painted Royal Satsuma" rather than a hand painted Shimazu crest and the name of the individual maker or kiln in Japan.

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Beautiful Antique Japanese Satsuma Hand Painted Porcelain Vase Signed
Beautiful Antique Japanese Satsuma Hand Painted Porcelain Vase Signed
$150.50
Japanese Antique Satsuma Vase by Taizan Yohei Meiji Fine Quality Kingfisher
Japanese Antique Satsuma Vase by Taizan Yohei Meiji Fine Quality Kingfisher
£12.62
ANTIQUE VINTAGE JAPANESE VASE with BIRD CERAMIC POTTERY HAND PAINTED SATSUMA
ANTIQUE VINTAGE JAPANESE VASE with BIRD CERAMIC POTTERY HAND PAINTED SATSUMA
$0.99

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Satsuma Vases Pair For Restoration
Satsuma Vases Pair For Restoration
$9.99
Large Japanese Meiji Period Satsuma Vase Rare Scenes Kinkozan
Large Japanese Meiji Period Satsuma Vase Rare Scenes Kinkozan
£707.25
Fine Antique Satsuma Heavily Gilded Lohan Vase circa 1900 1920
Fine Antique Satsuma Heavily Gilded Lohan Vase circa 1900 1920
$195.00

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Japanese Satsuma gosso blue satsuma vase decorated with hanging wisteria flowers
Japanese Satsuma gosso blue satsuma vase decorated with hanging wisteria flowers
$107.50
Vintage Koshida Satsuma Japanese 6 Wisteria Vase Signed
Vintage Koshida Satsuma Japanese 6 Wisteria Vase Signed
$39.00
Antique Japanese Pair of Hand Painted Satsuma Gold Gilded Porcelain Vases
Antique Japanese Pair of Hand Painted Satsuma Gold Gilded Porcelain Vases
$160.00