WITHOUT RESERVE: A PAIR OF JAPANESE SATSUMA VASES BY KOSHIDA

A PAIR OF JAPANESE SATSUMA VASES BY KOSHIDA
MEIJI ERA (1868-1912)

Both with a tall baluster body raised on a short flared foot, each delicately painted with a procession of many worshippers, possibly for the Kenda Matsuri near Tokyo; some pulling large floats topped with figures of various Shinto deities; with borders of brocade patterns and key fret; both with a mark to the base for Koshida, 21.5cm. (2)

WITHOUT RESERVE

Provenance: from the collection of Aubrey Furniss (b.1932), and thence by descent. Purchased from Chancery Antiques, London, 3rd April 1997; a copy of the invoice is available. During his life, Furniss amassed a large and eclectic collection including English miniatures, gold coins, stamps, Doulton, Satsuma, Japanese bronzes and Chinese snuff bottles.

Aubrey Furniss (b.1932), did his national service in Karachi (Pakistan), then joined the police where he did 30 years’ service. During this time both my mother and father started collecting antiques, creating a sizable collection of Doulton, specialising in Hanna and Florence Barlow. Following one of very many trips to Asia in the 1980s and particularly to Hong Kong, the collection was sold and he started collecting Asian ceramics, in particular Satsuma. His interest and collection spread to oriental ivory, snuff bottles and eventually Japanese bronzes. He did have a very eclectic collection, including English miniatures, English gold coins, Cranbury glass and a vast stamp collection.

Peter Furniss