(Satsuma, Kutani or Orange? See below.)

As Jan-Erik Nilsson bemoans on his site for collectors of antique Chinese and Japanese porcelain, "nothing is ever easy when it comes to Japanese pottery or porcelain." Indeed, for novices and seasoned collectors alike, terms like "Kutani" and "Satsuma" can be a source of lament, debate and consternation.

What is Satsuma? For one, it is a former Japanese feudal domain in southern Kyushu noted for its role in Japan's modernization. In its prime, Satsuma played a major role in the Meiji Restoration and was one of the most powerful feudal hans in Tokugawa Japan. Merriam-Webster Online (06/18/08), however, defines it as “any of several cultivated cold-tolerant mandarin trees that bear medium-sized largely seedless fruits with thin smooth skin” (and its fruits). Imagine casually mentioning mentioning to someone that you collect Satsuma and having them think, "hum, why oranges?"

Not that they would check it in the middle of a conversation with you (or would they?), this renowned online American dictionary currently makes no mention of Satsuma ware. Not to fret, the THREE volumed 1981 Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged, mentioned it. There, they define Satsuma ware as, “a hard fine-grained buff Japanese pottery first produced about the end of the 16th century, orig. decorated with monochrome glazes, and from the late 18th century finished with increasingly ornate overglaze enamels and gilding.”

If you think that is a mouthful, try this: Most seasoned collectors and dealers would agree that Satsuma ware (“satsuma-yaki” in Japanese) is a type of earthenware (technically somewhere in between pottery and porcelain) named after the Japanese feudal domain in which it was first developed (ironically, by Korean potters) that is primarily identified by its finely crackled transparent glaze, and that Satsuma ware may have little, no or elaborate decoration, yet is most often associated with a particular style of ornamentation executed in polychrome enamels and raised gold popular since it was introduced at the 1867 Paris Exhibition by the Shimazu daimyo (lord) of the Satsuma domain. This ornate style was painstakingly painted, typically in elaborate decoration depicting themes from Japanese culture, flora and fauna. Though often thought of out of context as a completely new style, its development was influenced by other styles and designers of the Meiji period [perhaps even Kutani Shoza (1816-1883)?] in response to competition from “Imari” porcelain and 19th century Anglo-Japanese interactions. Indeed, this particular style of Satsuma ware was specifically produced for the export market (c.f., Brighter than Gold - A Japanese Ceramic Tradition Formed by Foreign Aesthetics by Purple Tigress, published online August 11, 2005).

The 1867 style's long-term and widespread appeal coupled with the fact that most Westerns were introduced to that style and the ware at the same time (so the style and the ware "were" Satsuma ware) has resulted in linguistic development of the term "Satsuma." That is, the use of the word "Satsuma" has evolved from place, to products from the place (oranges and earthenware), to styles associated with products from the place (c.f., Irene Stitt's, Japanese Ceramics of the last 100 Years. Actually, come to think of it, prior to 1867, the ware might not have even been called Satsuma ware - need to look that up). Naturally, differing uses in different places by diverse people often results in debates, confusion and competing interests. For example, although many people seek the popular “1867 style” Satsuma ware, whereas some are only interested in Satsuma-yaki (let’s call these folks "traditionalist"), others are interested in "Satsuman" style items regardless of the type of ware upon which it is found (and these folks "laissez-fairest"). So what?

Well, for one thing since Satsuman style Kutani ware is frequently referred to simply as "Satsuma style" Kutani (c.f., Jan-Erik Nilsson's and Bouvier’s Kutani sites), a keyword search for “Satsuma” will include results that are not Satsuma-yaki. Therefore, traditionalists looking for Satsuma-yaki will have to wade through more results than they would if no one considered Satsuma a style, or if everyone called (and spelled) Satsuma-yaki "Satsumayaki" or "Satsumaware" (in otherwords, irritating and inconvenient). Laissez-fairests on the other hand find being able to use the word Satsuma to signify a particular style helpful and encourage traditionalist to simply add "-Kutani" to their searches. No doubt, there are folks in both camps that would prefer it if everyone would called the ware Satsumayaki or Satsumaware, yet accept that the natural evolution of language did not follow such a precise path, and it is too late to make significant changes, and that trying to ban use of "Satsuma" as a style would cause more problems than it would solve -- without the desired effect.

A bigger problem related to "Satsuma style" Kutani is that sadly, at times Kutani ware is accidentally or fraudulently misrepresented as Satsuma ware. Since Satsuma ware is typically worth more than Satsuma style Kutani, well, you know how that goes. All the same, before calling someone who misrepresents a particular ware a fraudster, consider that Satsumaware bearing a Kutani mark is not entirely uncommon, and it is not so hard to find Kutani in the very same shapes and styles as Satsuma ware!

What is Kutani? Good question. Well, for one, it is not an type of orange. Disappointingly, the term is not even in the 1981 international unabridged dictionary. Encyclopædia Britannica Online's “Kutani ware” article (retrieved June 18, 2008)introduces it as, “Japanese porcelain made in Kaga province (now in Ishikawa prefecture).” On his Gotheborg site (accessed June 18, 2008), Nilsson relates that the “word Kutani means Nine Valleys and is the name of an area and a village.” He elaborates that decorators trained in Kutani occasionally moved to other areas. Hence, ceramic ware (primarily porcelain, yet sometimes also pottery) that resembles styles associated with Kutani (some of which are similar to the 1867 Satsuma style) are now referred to as Kutani.

Kutani has become a generic term used for ceramic ware made in the tradition originating in mid 15th Century Kutani. To muddy the waters a little more, Kutani comes in many colors and styles, including the one referred to as Old Kutani (aka Ku-Kutani and Ko Kutani), developed ca 1650 and the style developed by Kutani Shoza (1816-1883) at the end of the Edo period in the 19th century (before the 1867 Paris Exhibition). The Shoza style is characterized by detailed colored enamel decoration and gold gilt and is sometimes conflated with "Satsuma style."

Lamentably, in the West, the terms Satsuma and Kutani have evolved and continue to evolve in a common language known to divide: English. All the same, what would happen if everyone came together in time and space to figure out how to avoid confusion when speaking about these wares and styles? Hard to tell. Would agree to call Satsuma ware Satsumayaki and Kutani ware Kutaniyaki? (Good luck.) Maybe after reviewing the diverse styles (from none to highly ornate) in which Satsuma-yaki has been decorated in the last several hundred years, they would agree that the use of Satsuma as a style (and its conflation with the Shoza style) is problematic and best avoided. How? Is it possible that regardless of the relationship or influence of one on the other they would simply call the Satsuma style introduced by the Shimazu lord in 1867 Shim-Sho style? (Ha—say that fast thrice!) If only it were so simple. Since there is no such thing as “The” original Satsuma or Kutani authority to which anyone can refer for the definitive word on Kutani-Satsuma related definitions and disputes (though there are a few experts) and since no one person or organization controls the evolution of the English language (not yet anyway), these terms will doubtless be a source of lament, debate and consternation for novices and experts alike for years to come.

Since as John Maynard Keynes, “in the long run, we're all dead” maybe it is best to agree to respectfully and responsibly disagree and respectfully and responsibly buy and sell as we best see fit?

Happy Hunting!

Aimi

(The set pictured above is decorated in a style that is commonly associated with Satsuma ware and many Satsuma items can be found in the same blank, yet since it is made of fine eggshell thin porcelain, it is Kutani ware. So if you were selling it, might you title it as a "Satsuma Style Kutani Cream & Sugar Set" or a "Kutani...Set, with a design similar to that on ware introduced by Shimazu lord at the 1867 Paris Exhibition" or as an "orange"?)