Page 80 - Satsuma MARKS The Joy Of Beauty 1000 Pottery and Porcelain Marks

TANZAN
丹山
探山

丹山 Tanzan Yoshitaro
Among the largest manufacturers of modern Awata faience is Tanzan Yoshitaro.
Originally educated for the medical profession, he came to Kyoto in 1854, and
settling at Awata, devoted himself entirely to the potter’s art. He is still alive, but
the factory is now under the direction of his son, Tanzan Rokuro. These artists must
unquestionably be classed amoung the most skilled of Japanese keramists. The pâte
of their faience is fine, and the glaze has a peculiarly soft, creamy appearance that
consorts prettily with chaste, delicately executed design of floral subjects, foliage,
burds, monkeys, and so forth. They prefer neutral tints to brilliant colours, and
instead of the jewel-like enamels of old Awata school, they generally use russet or
dark brown pigment. It is probably, however, that the name of Tanzan will be
remembered chiefly in connection with pâte -sur -pâte decoration. The Tanzan
faience of this class differs essentially from the well-known Warabi-de ware of
Hozan. In the latter, the characteristic feature is bold arabesques and floral
scrolls in high relief; in the former [Tanzan], lace patterns, diapers, and archaic
designs, in low relief, executed with extraordinary skill and minuteness. Some of
Tanzan’s best pieces of this class are as delicate and elaborate as mediæval
illuminations. Their general aspect, however, is subdued, owing to the prevalence of
a dead-leaf enamel particularly affected at the Tanzan pottery.Captain F. Brinkley
(1901), “Japan - It’s History Arts and Literature”, Vol. 8, p. 201.

探山Tanzan Seikai
Ishuin, Satsuma Yaki, Seseien Tanzan (Satsuma ware, ceramic gold, made by
Tanzan)