Satsuma Ware (White Satsuma), Urushima Pottery, tea ceremony utensils, incense container with a joint box. Product description: This is a stunning example of Japanese ceramics, Shiro Satsuma, known for its delicate design and exquisite craftsmanship. This item is an 'incense container', a small container used in the tea ceremony (chado) to hold incense. The refined white base is decorated with delicate decorative elements that symbolise the rich cultural heritage of Satsuma ware. The incense container is supplied with a kyobako, which attests to its authenticity and ensures safe storage. Dimensions: Height: 4 cm. Diameter: 7.8 cm. Weight: 111 g. Artist profile: This Satsuma ware incense container is a product of the Urushima ceramics workshop, which is dedicated to preserving the traditional techniques and aesthetics of Satsuma ceramics. Items from this workshop often reflect the history of Satsuma's renowned ceramics. Pottery is a traditional craft that exists in many different regions of the world and boasts different characteristics. Japanese pottery in particular was called 'SATSUMA' (Satsuma) during the Meiji era (1868-1912) and was exported to many parts of the world as one of Japan's representative specialities. Satsuma-yaki is a ceramic ware produced in Kagoshima Prefecture and was started 400 years ago by Shimazu Yoshihiro, lord of the Satsuma clan. There are about 50 old Satsuma ware kiln sites. There were six types: Tateno, Ryumonji, Naeshirogawa, Nishimochida, Hirasa and Tanegashima. Those that remain today are the Naeshirogawa, Tatefield and Hirasa lines. The ceramics produced are divided into two types: 'Shiro-satsuma' (white) and 'Kuro-satsuma' (black). In 1687 (Keio 3), during the transition period between the Edo and Meiji periods, the Paris Exposition was held and the Satsuma clan exhibited Satsuma ware. The white Satsuma ware exhibited at this time was highly praised for its beautiful ivory texture, gilding and coloured patterns. It became very popular overseas in the European and American markets, where it was known as 'SATSUMA', and became a major industry of the clan and an overseas trade item. In 2007, the National Museum of Ceramics in France held an exhibition on the traditional beauty of Satsuma porcelain in Paris, and it is still highly regarded today. White and black - two characteristics of Satsuma-yaki The first thing that distinguishes Satsuma-yaki from other types of pottery is that there are two types of Satsuma-yaki: white Satsuma (white mon) and black Satsuma (black mon). White Satsuma, which was created in the early Edo period, was considered an official product of the Satsuma clan because of its precious raw materials and delicate appearance, and was loved by people of high status. After the Meiji Restoration, it became a major national export and was popular with European aristocrats and rich people. 'Precious raw material' refers to the soil. The white soil used to make white satsuma could only be found in a very limited area within the territory of Satsuma (Kagoshima), so white satsuma itself was also considered a precious commodity. What gives it its 'delicate appearance' are the delicate cracks on the surface. These cracks are called 'kannyu' and are caused by the different shrinkage rates of the clay and the glaze (the smooth surface). In other types of pottery, cracks would be considered a failure, but in white Satsuma, these cracks are the 'flavour' of the piece. Shiro-satsuma is a cream-coloured ivory ware with a transparent glaze. The surface is painted with bright red, blue, green and yellow paints. The surface is painted with bright red, blue, green and yellow pigments, and is also characterised by its fine, gilded patterns and openwork. The highest quality white Satsuma was offered to the Shimazu clan and other feudal lords, and was also known as "Satsuma for the emperor".