Following the success of Japan’s display of ceramic wares at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1867, a greater number of Japanese kilns began to produce intricately decorated ceramics based on those which originated from Satsuma, the southernmost of Japan’s four main islands. Satsuma wares are characterised by overglaze polychrome enamels and minute gilt details depicting bird-and-flower compositions (known as Kachō-ga in Japanese), scenes inspired by woodblock prints, and similar Japanese imagery which appealed to Western taste. This Satsuma teapot is finely decorated with images of children and beautiful women, known as Bijin. Ryozan 亮山 (real name Nakamura Tatsunoske) was one of the most famous artists working for the Yasuda trading company, owned and managed by the Yasuda clan.
