Satsuma vases

The first items of Satsuma ware were rarely ever signed. The craftsmen began using signatures more actively in the Meiji Period. The signatures were painted by hand, rather than by using stamps. One of the most popular symbols which can be seen on Satsuma ware is 山, which means "mountain" in the Japanese language and is pronounced yama, san or zan. This sign is also portrayed on the exhibited items. Tomoyama (also read as Hōzan) – 朋山, the painter and decorator of the vase, has most likely put his signature on it.