Japanese Satsuma Dish Palace Scene

Mount Fuji in the distance, and a whole court sitting on the grass in front of it.

This Satsuma dish with a palace scene comes from Japan and dates to the Meiji Period (1868 – 1912 CE). It is enameled and gilded porcelain. Meiji export Satsuma is known for crackled ivory grounds crowded with fine enamel figures and heavy gilding. Two overlapping panels take up the center. In the larger, robed courtiers gather by a lake below a red temple and snowy Fuji. The smaller panel shows wisteria and blue birds. A deep blue border is scattered with gold. It is 9.75 inches in diameter.

Everyone is dressed up, and nobody is in a hurry.