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Dear everybody
As I am no expert in Satsuma ware I need help to identify the signature on my Samurai Vase. Is there someone to help me? I also have no idea if the vase dates from 1900 or before.
thanks to everybody for an answer and best regards from Switzerland
Karina

Hi Karina,

To start with: your beautiful vase is not Satsuma, but Kutani ware. The redbrown with gold on the neck and foot is typical Kutani.
Besides that: the signature reads: Kutani 九谷 - Dai Nippon 大日本 - Seizan 晴山 Do 堂 Sei 製 (= Kutani - Great Japan - Made by Seizan Trading Firm (or Hall)).
The 山 character is hardly visible, but just readable.
Seizan Do operated in the late Meiji and Taisho Period around 1900 till 1925.
So date: circa 1900.

According Gotheborg:
Handwritten Dai Nippon marks together with the artist’s signature date to the Meiji Period (1868-1911), reflecting the greatly increased nationalism of that period.

Regards,
Martin.

dear Martin!

Thanks so much for your answer! I ha d no idea this is not Satsuma, but Kutani and the artists name helps alot!
Do you think it's a special item? Often you see the stamp mark and not hand written, what's the difference? Have a nice day, Martin!
Karina

Dear Karina,

It's special in the sense that it's actually more or less a fine Satsuma decoration of a samurai on a Kutani earthenware piece instead of porcelain. There were a number of Seizan decorators active during the Meiji period, most of their signatures on Satsuma pieces. Seizan Do is only to find on Kutani ware, I've found only 2 other marks of Seizan Do on Kutani pieces, so it's probably a rare vase.

If you like to compare your vase with others, go to this site:
https://www.trocadero.com/directory/Antiques/Regional-Art/Asian/Japanese/Porcelain
In the right upper corner, select "including archives" and type "Kutani" and enter.
You find a lot of Kutani pieces there.
Success,
Martin.

I forgot to mention this:
Alternate reading of Seizan Do might be:
Haruyama Do.
Martin.

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