From the 16th century on, ceramics were produced in the southwest of Japan in the Province of Satsuma with eggshellcolored glaze and gold-colored decoration, which were however reserved exclusively for the estate of the Samurai. The great appeal of these ceramic objects for the first visitors to Japan during the Meiji period led to a mass production of ceramics with decorations in the Satsuma style. The studio near Kyoto founded by Kinkozan Sobei VI (1824–1884) marked the start of production of Satsuma porcelain specifically oriented on export. Other craftsmen went to Yokohama straight away with their workshops. This plate shows a summer dance event (bon odori) rendered in richly detailed and highly skilled painting.
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