Bowl thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 125, Edwin and Susan Davies Gallery

Bowl

1850-1865 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
In Japan tea is traditionally drunk from small bowls such as this. This example was made in Satsuma in Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's four main islands. The ceramics first made in Satsuma in the 17th century were usually plain. By the second half of the 19th century, when this bowl was made, Satsuma potters were decorating their works in enamels and gilt.

Subjects Depicted
This bowl is decorated with two carp. The carp is highly prized in Japan and is associated with a Chinese legend in which any fish able to leap over the famous longmen waterfall was transformed into a dragon. The story, known as 'Climbing the Dragon Gate', was a metaphor for success and advancement.

Time
After Japan opened its ports to foreign trade in the 1850s, a craze for all things Japanese swept across Britain, Europe and the United States. Japan was eager to exploit this enthusiasm and discovered that the big international exhibitions that took place in Europe and America in the second half of the 19th century were an ideal opportunity to promote its products. Japan organised its first display for the Paris Exhibition of 1867. Satsuma had its own section at the show and exhibited many works by its potters, including this bowl. The success of the 1867 display initiated a great vogue in the West for highly decorated Satsuma ceramics. They became so popular that other potteries in Japan began to copy them.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Earthenware, with a crackled cream glaze and decoration in overglaze enamels and gilt
Brief description
Satsuma ware bowl
Dimensions
  • Height: 4.9cm
  • Diameter: 9.5cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 18/01/1999 by sf
Styles
Marks and inscriptions
'Gensaiken hitsu' in overglaze red (lower side; overglaze)
Translation
painted by Gensaiken
Gallery label
British Galleries: JAPANESE OBJECTS FROM THE PARIS EXHIBITION OF 1867
The display organised by the Japanese at the Paris Exhibition of 1867 was a great success. Crowds flocked to see it. These are some of the many items acquired by the Museum. They are typical of the kind of objects made in Japan to meet the growing European demand.(27/03/2003)
Object history
Purchased from the Paris Exhibition, 1867 (Satsuma Government), accessioned in 1869. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Decorated by Gensaiken; mark reading 'Gensaiken hitsu' (painted by Gensaiken) in overglaze red on lower side. Made in Satsuma, Japan
Subject depicted
Summary
Object Type
In Japan tea is traditionally drunk from small bowls such as this. This example was made in Satsuma in Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's four main islands. The ceramics first made in Satsuma in the 17th century were usually plain. By the second half of the 19th century, when this bowl was made, Satsuma potters were decorating their works in enamels and gilt.

Subjects Depicted
This bowl is decorated with two carp. The carp is highly prized in Japan and is associated with a Chinese legend in which any fish able to leap over the famous longmen waterfall was transformed into a dragon. The story, known as 'Climbing the Dragon Gate', was a metaphor for success and advancement.

Time
After Japan opened its ports to foreign trade in the 1850s, a craze for all things Japanese swept across Britain, Europe and the United States. Japan was eager to exploit this enthusiasm and discovered that the big international exhibitions that took place in Europe and America in the second half of the 19th century were an ideal opportunity to promote its products. Japan organised its first display for the Paris Exhibition of 1867. Satsuma had its own section at the show and exhibited many works by its potters, including this bowl. The success of the 1867 display initiated a great vogue in the West for highly decorated Satsuma ceramics. They became so popular that other potteries in Japan began to copy them.
Collection
Accession number
866-1869

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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