White Satsuma chawan with crackle glaze and fine gold chrysanthemum-butterfly painting — a tea bowl for collectors drawn to ko-Satsuma (old Satsuma) aesthetics, overglaze enamel tea ceremony bowls, and the classic Satsuma palette of cream, gold, and soft floral hue.
[ DETAILS ] • Name: 薩摩焼 菊に蝶文茶碗 (Satsuma-yaki Kiku ni Chō-mon Chawan) • Dimensions: Diameter 11.8 cm × H 8.4 cm • Glaze: White Satsuma with fine crackle (kairagi-style) • Decoration: Gold and soft pink-purple overglaze enamel chrysanthemum and butterfly • Box: Paulownia wood storage box with calligraphy • Condition: Good antique condition; crackle glaze intact • SKU: 260318_a_2517
[ CULTURAL CONTEXT ] Satsuma ware has long been a bridge between Japanese ceramic tradition and international admiration. The white-bodied, crackle-glazed surface exists not as flaw but as design intention — a field of fine lines suggesting age, porosity, the acceptance of time. Against this, the gold-painted chrysanthemum and butterfly speak of autumn and transformation: the kiku, emblem of the imperial house; the butterfly, in Japanese symbolism, the soul in motion.
[ DEEP DIVE ] Ko-Satsuma (古薩摩) refers to Satsuma ware produced before the Meiji commercial export period — pieces made within the tradition of the Shimazu domain, before Western demand reshaped production. The crackle (kannyu) on fine white Satsuma was achieved through careful clay and glaze chemistry; the gold enameling required multiple firings. A piece with intact crackle, fine brushwork, and a calligraphed storage box represents the category at its most coherent.
🔹 [ SHIPPING & PACKAGING ] • Dispatch: Within 1-6 business days • Carrier: Japan Post EMS / UPS (with tracking) • Packaging: Carefully wrapped with protective materials
