KINKOZAN-錦光山

There is much written on Kinkozan which is available on line. I will not give the history of the Kinkozan factory here. I will only say that although Westerners refer to this work as Satsuma, it is not the original Satsuma from the Kagoshima area. Satsuma was produced, mostly for export, in Kyoto and other areas near ports. The quality can vary from excellent to poor, even from the Kinkozan factory. Satsuma wares made for the domestic market are usually more simple, and subdued. Much of the Satsuma for the export market, in my opinion, was rather gaudy and oft times crude, although there are many exceptions to that rule. Kinkozan did produce many exceptional wares. Keep in mind there was another maker that used Kinkozan but the kanji characters were different.

Helpful resources:

http://www.artnet.com/artists/kinkozan/
Treasury of Satsuma by Sandra Andacht
www.kinkozan.com 

Tentative dating- 1920's 

KYOTO SATSUMA (京 薩摩)

From collection of Jim Horne

AWATA YAKI (粟田焼)

          

                      

                                 This is an Awata Jar with missing lid c. 1930 

KINKOZAN

Made for export. This mark (red and gold) with the mountain mark reads Kinkozan Zo 錦光山造. This  is probably c. 1921-1930 ( certainly after September 1921, given the MIJ written above the mark).

Marked Kinkozan Zo. These kinds of cups (and saucers) came in sets of twelve, a different flower motif for each month. 

     This is signed in red Kinkozn Zo 錦光山造

KOSHIDA

         This is a very fun Koshida piece circa late 1950's.

Marked Seizan 清山