Fine pair of Meiji-period Japanese satsuma candlesticks, combining richly painted ceramic vases with elegant gilt-brass mounts. Made for the export market between 1868–1912, they represent the height of late-Meiji craftsmanship, where technical precision and decorative abundance come together in a single object.
Each ceramic body is densely decorated with micro-painting in gold and polychrome enamels, set against a warm ivory ground with a natural crackle glaze. The scenes portray court nobles, scholars, musicians, and attendants, all rendered with remarkable delicacy. Faces are expressive, robes carry intricate textile patterns, and the landscapes around them include stylized pines, rocks, clouds, and seasonal foliage. The detailing is extremely fine: tiny raised enamel dots, gilt outlines, patterned borders, and hexagonal brocade motifs typical of premium satsuma production.
The brass mounts—three-arm candelabra on each piece—are inspired by late 19th-century European decorative arts, with scrollwork, leaf-shaped branches, and embossed candle cups. Their warm patina complements the ceramic palette and enhances the overall silhouette. Bases are cast with ribbon and foliate motifs and stand firmly, adding visual weight and balance.
Condition: Very good antique condition with light wear to the gilding, consistent with age. The painted decoration remains vivid, and the structural stability is excellent.
Dimensions:
Height: 32 cm (12.6 in)
Width: 21 cm (8.3 in)
Depth: 8.5 cm (3.3 in)
A refined pair for collectors of Japanese art, Meiji decorative objects, or cross-cultural pieces combining Eastern ceramic artistry and Western metalwork. This pair showcases the level of technical mastery and narrative detail that defines authentic satsuma at its finest.
