Japanese Satsuma Pottery Low relief Moulded Plate Painted Immortals or Lucky Gods with Halos marked Satsuma & Shimazu mon - Antique Meiji circa 1900

An antique Japanese Satsuma pottery ( 薩摩焼 Satsuma-yaki ) decorative low relief moulded cabinet plate with a lobed or scalloped rim, naturalistically hand painted and extensively gilded with Immortals or Lucky Gods, each with a halo or nimbus. They are all depicted as a group set within a landscape with the sea and mountains and hills in the background. Some collectors may call this, heads with moons or the thousand faces design although there are only sixteen faces painted. The rim of the plate has an iron red and gilded border with a stylised wave pattern design.

This highly collectable and very decorative antique Japanese pottery plate or okimono has been hand painted with poly chrome enamels and copious gilding, it dates from the late 19th to early 20th century circa 1900 during the Meiji period (1868-1912).

We think that some of the Asian Gods from Mythology illustrated are as follows: 
Hotei is sat at the front with two children at his feet, he symbolizes contentment and happiness.
In the centre is Bishamonten wearing crown armour, he protects against evil or illness and is a bringer of wealth
Benzaiten, the only goddess of the lucky gods, she is Goddess of beauty and arts, from the Hindu-Buddhist pantheon of India.
Moulded in high relief on the left is Bukan with his tigers head at his feet behind him. His ability to tame the tiger represents the power of his knowledge.
The other relief moulded deity dressed in ornate black, red and gold coloured robes and sat on a cloud is Kokūzō Bosatsu (Ākāśagarbha) he is regarded as one of the eight great bodhisattvas. His name can be translated as "boundless space treasury" or "void store" as his wisdom is said to be boundless as space itself.
One at the back at the top is holding up a Nyoihōju or wish fulfilling jewel we think he is Jizō Bosatsu. (Kṣitigarbha).

The base of the plate is marked in gold on an iron red rectangle with the Shimazu ( 島津 ) family crest or mon of a cross with a circle. This clan or family originally ruled the Satsuma province. Below the mon is a gilded mark of 薩摩 for Satsuma.

Satsuma ware was made in the Satsuma Province ( 薩摩国 Satsuma-no Kuni ) which was an old province of Japan that is now the western half of Kagoshima Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū  in Japan. In the Meiji period a number of regions made similar articles in the Satsuma pottery style. This item is Japanese Satsuma export pottery ( 京薩摩 Kyō-Satsuma ).

The plate is approximately 1 1/2 inches ( 3.8 cm) high,  10 inches ( 25.4 cm) diameter. It  weighs a total of 949 grammes unpacked.

It is in good antique condition, the body has the usual crazing to the glaze and some minor discolouration to the back. There is an old crack to the top left on the rim behind Benazaitens head, in line with the hills in the background. which has had on old repair there are signs of overpainting to the back. There are no other chips cracks nor restoration. There is some minor wear to the enamel and gilding particularly on the rim and the high points of the tigers head and the cloud seat of Kokūzō Bosatsu. There is a previous owners mark to the back in invisble marker only seen with UV blacklight. Please see the images. The price takes the condition into account.

This is a highly collectable and decorative item and great for display on its own or as part of a collection antique Japanese pottery or Satsuma-yaki.

Free UK postage - Worldwide international shipping at cost.

References

Wikipedia - List of Japanese Deities.