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6 inches across,obvious damage,is this what is termed as 'gosu' blue and can anyone recognise the mark,have searched my limited books with no results,apart from zan and zo,help please,Keith.

Hi, Keith,
Gosu blue which means natural blue color instead of the chemical method, right? I think it is extremely difficult to separate one to other. During the late Edo period, when cobalt dye was introduced to Japan from Europe, it was quite expensive and hard to apply on the porcelain ware. They even mixed the two, or going back and forth with experiments. Also, some potters like the traditional Kyoto kilns,prefered to use old method. When you date porcelain, you have to know all the historical backgrounds also.
A term, satsuma, like imari was used for export ware, at the end of Edo. It all started, Satsuma as the coutry region in the south, sent porcelain ware to Paris expo,earned the great fame. This set the style of the Satsuma ware. It was different from old Imari, more similar to the traditional Kyo-yaki pottery added gold decorations and Japanese themes for export market.
To follow Satsuma's success, other kilns started to make pottery just like those for export in Kyoto, Kutani and other many,they even put Satsuma crest to appeal. There was no copyright back then. The Satsuma was the style they believed it would bring the prosperity.

The pottery you have, I would call kyo-yaki made by Seizan, possibly late Meiji period.

I know it is very confusing to separate and catagolize the pottery sometime.
Emiko

Thank you for your reply,Emiko,most grateful,do you know anything about the potter Kusube Yaichi only I have some of his work but can find very little about him,again thanks for your help,Keith.

Hi Keith,
I looked it up in Japnese web site,

Kusube Yaichi ( 1897 – 1984 )
Born into the family in Awata district, Kyoto, well known Kyo-yaki pottery artist, his family owned the company actively produced export pottery also known as Kyo-Satsuma until his father, Sennosuke died in 1941.

Emiko

Thanks again Emiko,most grateful,Keith.

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