Antique Japanese Satsuma Sugar Bowl with Lid (Likely Takeuchi) – Shimazu Clan Crest – Hand Painted

Antique Japanese Satsuma Sugar Bowl with Lid (Likely Takeuchi) – Shimazu Clan Crest – Hand Painted

A beautiful antique Japanese Satsuma ware sugar bowl with lid, richly decorated in the traditional style associated with late 19th to early 20th-century export ceramics. This charming piece likely originates from the Takeuchi workshop and features the iconic Shimazu crest, a circular emblem with a cross that became a hallmark of Satsuma pottery.

The bowl is finely hand-painted with a detailed scene of Rakan (Buddhist disciples/monks) rendered in the classic Satsuma palette of warm earthen tones, gold highlights, and delicate linework. The figures are framed by flowing decorative patterns, giving the piece the richly textured and slightly crackled glaze typical of Satsuma ceramics.

Twin sculpted handles flank the bowl, and the piece would originally have been accompanied by a matching lid, forming part of a tea service set intended for the export market during the Meiji–Taishō period.

Features

• Type: Sugar bowl with lid (lidded sugar basin)

• Origin: Japan

• Ware: Satsuma

• Maker: Likely Takeuchi (based on style and known Satsuma marks)

• Decoration: Hand-painted Rakan / Buddhist figures with extensive gilt detailing

• Mark: Shimazu clan crest associated with Satsuma pottery

• Period: Late Meiji to early Taishō period, c. 1890–1920 (approx.)

• Material: Earthenware with crackled glaze and overglaze enamel

• Size 13cm high and roughly 11 cms across (not including the handles)

Condition

Good antique condition with age-appropriate wear. The glaze shows the characteristic crackle typical of Satsuma ware, and the decoration remains vibrant. Please review photographs for details of condition.

Collectibility

Pieces bearing the Shimazu crest are closely associated with the Satsuma ceramic tradition of southern Japan. Originally linked to the ruling Shimazu clan, the crest later became a widely used symbol identifying the Satsuma style during the height of the export trade in the late 19th century.

This beautifully decorated sugar bowl is a fine example of the ornate craftsmanship that made Satsuma ceramics highly sought after by Western collectors during the Meiji era.