A LARGE JAPANESE VASE BY MAKUZU KOZAN (1842-1916)

A LARGE JAPANESE VASE BY MAKUZU KOZAN (1842-1916)

MEIJI PERIOD, C.1900

The tall baluster body painted in resist decoration on a diaphanous green-glazed ground with blossoming irises, the inside of the rim left white, the base signed Makuzu Kozan sei in a rectangular cartouche, 43cm.

This shade of underglaze green was developed circa 1900 with the assistance of Gottfried Wagener (1831-1892). Wagener was one of the first foreigners to go to Japan as an oyotoi gaijin, a technological adviser. Makuzu Kozan worked with him and used his new colours, including this green and a shade of pink that could stand high temperature firing.