Fine Japanese Satsuma Vase with Roosters and Autumn Maple by Gyokusen, Meiji Period (circa 1880)
Height: 18.5 cm
Signed: Gyokusen (玉仙), with peach-form gilt cartouche
A masterwork of Meiji-period Satsuma ware, this elegant baluster vase is signed by the highly regarded artist Gyokusen and presents a poetic autumnal scene with exceptional painterly finesse. The central composition features a proud rooster, two hens, and a trail of chicks meandering through a serene, rocky field. They are surrounded by finely painted sprays of bamboo, wild grasses, and chrysanthemums, under the arching limbs of a Japanese maple in full crimson hue—an unmistakable evocation of the season’s quiet turning.
The background is treated with unusual sensitivity, transitioning from a rich, deep blue-green at the shoulder to warm cream at the base, lending the composition both atmosphere and depth. This graduated tonal ground is rare in Satsuma and is here handled with the grace of a landscape painter.
The neck is richly decorated with a collar of gilt chrysanthemumsand stylised karakusa scrolls, finely drawn against the same deep blue-green ground. The rim is accented in raised gilt with a craquelure texture. Just below, a band of gilt petal lappetsencircles the shoulder, anchoring the composition. The foot rimechoes these motifs with alternating gilt floral medallions and karakusa arabesques on a saturated blue enamel ground, bordered in gold.
The reverse of the vase offers a more contemplative scene: a riverscape rendered in soft grisaille, with flowing water cutting through wooded hills. The composition fades gently into mist and distance, offering a meditative counterpoint to the animated life on the front.
Condition: Minor rubbing to the gilt at the mouth and base; no chips, cracks, or restorations.
An outstanding example of Gyokusen’s mature hand — harmoniously balanced, richly coloured, and refined in both subject and execution.
