Japan Marks - Kusube-yaki

Kusube Sennosuke & Kusube Yaichi
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KUSUBE SENNOSUKE (楠部千之助) (1859-1941)
KUSUBE YAICHI (楠部彌弌) (楠部弥弌) (1897-1984)
 
Kusube Yaichi was born in Awata district, Kyoto, and became a prominent Kyo-yaki pottery artist.  His family owned a company that actively produced export pottery also known as Kyo-Satsuma until his father, Sennosuke died in 1941.

Source: Asian Art Forum
 

Large Gilded Satsuma Crouching Cat, signed.
Picture courtesy of Christies.com
This fabulous crouching cat graces the cover on the November 1995 Satsuma catalog for Christie's, London, South Kensington, Lot 228 / Sale 7044, price realized including buyer's premium $12,272 USD, described as A Model of A Crouching Cat, wearing a bell tied with a silk cord above a lappet collar painted and gilt with butterflies and flowerheads, the animal with eyes closed, ears pricked, its tail whipped over its haunches, the fur well delineated - 12 1/2 in. (32cm) long, (some gilt rubbing to head), signed Dai Nihon Satsuma yaki Kizan zo.

Note: Relief work in bun-tie ruffled collar and figural bell.

Further research is needed to determine the translation of mark.

In my opinion, the artist who made this cat would be someone in the caliber of Imperial artist, highly  experienced in shaping and sculpturing cat forms, bun-tie collar and suzu bell. Someone who is also experienced in hand painting intricate hairlines and detailed brocade shippo patterns.  There are only a few artists who could make a refined cat such as this.  The artist would be active in last quarter of the 19th century to early 20thc, first quarter.  Hopefully, we would also see other cat figures made by the same artist.
 
Official Catalogue of World's Columbian Exposition, 1893, Part I, Moses Purnell Handy, 1893:

Listed under Ceramics and Mosaics. Group 91. :#563. Sennosuke Kusube, Kyoto. Stoneware. 575
 
 
Gilded Satsuma Recumbent Cat, signed.
Picture courtesy of Christies.com
This exquisite gilded crouching cat sold at Christies London for $5,066 including buyer's premium, Lot 363 / Sale 5565, described as "An Imperial Satsuma model of a recumbent cat, 19th century, with eyes closed and head slightly turned to the right, wearing a bell collar decorated with kiku sprays and geometric designs, signed - 7 3/4 in. (19.7cm) long, wood stand."

Note: Hand painted with intricate delineated hairlines, tail curled upwards on side, with perked ears, wearing bun-tie collar with figural suzu bell. 

The cat was signed but there was no translation of signature nor was there a picture of signature provided.  Further research is needed to determine the translation of mark.

In my opinion, the artist who made this cat would be someone in the caliber of Imperial artist, highly  experienced in shaping and sculpturing cat forms, bun-tie collar and suzu bell. Someone who is also experienced in hand painting intricate hairlines and detailed brocade shippo patterns.  There are only a few artists who could make a refined cat such as this.  The artist would be active in last quarter of the 19th century to early 20thc, first quarter.  Hopefully, we would also see other cat figures made by the same artist.
 
The Exhibition of the Empire of Japan, Official Catalogue, Japan. Imperial Japanese Commission to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, International Exposition, 1904:

Listed under Group 45 - Porcelain, #31. Kusube, Sennosuke, Sanjo, Kioto - Flower basins.
Fire boxes. Plates. Censers.
 
 
Satsuma Moriage Crouching Cats, unsigned, attributed to Kusubei kiln
Picture courtesy of Christies.com
These Satsuma Moriage Crouching Cats, sold for $1,989 at Christie's, London on 22 February 2007, Lot 2341 / Sale 5092, described as "A pair of Japanese satsuma cats, meiji period, each recumbent cat poised with its head turned slightly to the right, its tail curled around the side, the neck collar with a bell and a top knot, decorated with roundels enclosing geometric patterns, gilt crescents, variously shaped forms and blossoms, all reserved on a textured black ground, the underside unglazed - 7 3/8in. (18.7cm) long (2 [cats]).

Note: There is no mention if the cats are signed and therefore they are most likely unsigned since it is not stated or missing the stamp mark MADE IN JAPAN, or perhaps were made prior to the required stamping of country origin.

This fuku (crouching-recumbent) cat form was mostly likely moulded and were there are slight differences in the facial feature expression of each cat - just like we see differences in the sleeping cats.  But basically, this particular cat form was most likely made by the same artist-kiln.

Over the years, I have found and seen numerous figures with this type of enameling.  On two figures, I found a signature mark, Kusube (楠部).  The signatures appear to be written by two different people.  I have determined one signature belongs to Kusube Yaichi and the other to his father, Kusube Sennosuke.  Since both father and son decorated using this particular style of enameling, I am naming this enameling style Kusube (family kiln) Satsuma Moriage. For more details on signature and enamel decorations, read below.

In my opinion, these finely decorated Satsuma recumbent-crouching (fuku) cats are the work of Kusube kiln - they were made by either Kusube Yaichi or Sennosuke.
 
Up-to-Date Guide for the Land of the Rising Sun, H. Hotta, 1902-1903:

Listed under Porcelain and Potteries - Kusube (Sennosuke), [of] Shirakawa-bashi, Goken-cho.
 
 
Satsuma Recumbent Cat, unsigned by artist, attributed to Kusubei kiln,
stamped MADE IN JAPAN
Picture courtesy of 2ezr.com
Finely sculptured creme glazed crouching cat with curled, Hook tail on side, head slightly turned to the right, wearing a gilded bun-tie collar decorated with moriage kiku flowers and vine sprays, attached figural suzu bell.
Pictures courtesy of 2ezr.com 
Pictures courtesy of 2ezr.com 
 
 

Kusube Satsuma Moriage Crouching Cat
unsigned, stamped MADE IN JAPAN
 
Kusube White Glazed Satsuma Crouching Cat
unsigned, unstamped MADE IN JAPAN
 
Pictures courtesy of 2ezr.com 
Pictures courtesy of 2ezr.com 
Pictures courtesy of 2ezr.com 
 
 

Nemuri Neko decoracted with Kusube Satsuma Moriage on earthenware,
unsigned, attributed to Kusube kiln, stamped MADE IN JAPAN
Famous artist family Kusube created okimono figures with gilded colorful raised relief enamels called moriage. His moriage style consisted of textured dark backgrounds (blackish brown, ochre red earth brown or blue) with raised relief enamels in same color as background or in a  contrasting color - yellow or blue.  Amongst this textured background, he hand painted  intricate motifs of gilded colorful raised relief enamels depicting brocade patterns, medallions, rondels, fans, shippo designs, scrolling patterns, flowers, sprays, maple leaves, three-leaf clovers, bamboo, wisteria, lucky coins, pearl of wisdom, just about any oriental motif you could imagine.

There is a distinct enameling style difference between Kusube moriage and Kutani moriage.

I am calling his distinct enameling style Kusube Satsuma Moriage.
 
Taisho era Taiko Drum Figures decorated with Kusube Satsuma Moriage
signed 楠部 Kusube (made by Kusube)
These three taiko figures were purchased at the same time from one person. The standing boy figure is signed and determined to have been made by Kusube Sennosuke, the sitting boy figure is signed and determined to have been made by Kusube Yaichi, and the sitting female is unsigned and attributed to Kusube kiln (either Kusube Yaichi or Sennosuke).
 
    

楠部 Kusube, Yaichi
           
 

楠部 Kusube, Yaichi
           
 
unsigned,
楠部 Kusube, Yaichi
Prof. Aykut Gurcaglar, art historian, dates these Taiko figures to the late Taisho era.  http://www.arteorientalis.com/japan_porcelaii.htm
Kusube Satsuma Moriage Cats
unsigned, attributed to Kusube kiln, stamped MADE IN JAPAN
 
Kusube Satsuma Moriage Prostrated Cat

 
Kusube Satsuma Moriage Nemuri Neko Ribbon Collar
 
 
 
 
 
 

Pictures courtesy of 2ezr.com
Pictures courtesy of 2ezr.com
 
Pictures courtesy of 2ezr.com
Pictures courtesy of 2ezr.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three cats  in same exact form with different decorations,
unsigned, attributed to Kusube kiln, stamped MADE IN JAPAN
 
 
 
 
Kusube Satsuma Moriage Sleeping Cat with Bun-Tie Collar
 
   
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
   
 

   
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Kusube Satsuma Moriage Lazy Sitting Cat Pleated Ribbon Collar
 
 
 

Tentative Kusube Moriage Cat
 
Kusube Yaichi Satsuma Moriage Mystical Creatures,
unsigned, attributed to Kusube kiln, stamped JAPAN or MADE IN JAPAN
 
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f119/nemurineko/mystical%20creatures/japan%20jishi%20koro%20bijin/nipponshishikorobizen-1.jpg
The koro shown below is tentative
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f119/nemurineko/mystical%20creatures/japan%20moriage%20jishi%20koro/nipponmoriagejishikoro1.jpg
 
Buddha Sakyamuni with Kusube Satsuma Moriage,
unsigned, attributed to Kusube kiln, stamped MADE IN JAPAN
 
 
 
Pair of Kannon (Kuan Yin) decorated with Kusube Satsuma Moriage,
unsigned, attributed to Kusube kiln, stamped MADE IN JAPAN
 

   
 
Fukusuke, Lucky Symbol for Business with Kusube Satsuma Moriage
unsigned, attributed to Kusube kiln, stamped MADE IN JAPAN 
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f119/nemurineko/deities%20figures/satsuma%20fukusuke/CopyofDscf0011.jpg
 
Geisha Girls Satsuma Moriage on Bone China Porcelain
unsigned, attributed to Kusube kiln, stamped MADE IN JAPAN

           

           

     

         

         

 
 
KUSUBE SIGNATURES
& KUSUBE SATSUMA MORIAGE
 
Recently, the kanji signatures  on two figures were translated by Prof. Aykut Gurcaglar, art historian at http://www.arteorientalis.com/japan_porcelaii.htm and I agree with the translation.  The signature reads (楠部) KUSUBE.  Prof. Gurcaglar believes this is the signature of notable artist Kusube Yaichi. 

I found Kusube Yaichi impressed signatures on chawan ware and hand written signatures on wooden article boxes. 

I also found two satsuma vases marked (楠部) KUSUBE.

After studying the signatures, I believe there are two signatures on the taiko boys.  The taiko boys each have a slightly different signature.  I believe this is why Prof. Gurcaglar only made notation for one mark regarding the sitting taiko boy rather than both boys. The other Kusube signature most likely belongs to Sennosuke.

Since there are two taiko boys with different signatures, I am noting this type of Satsuma Moriage style and naming it as Kusube (family/kiln) Satsuma Moriage enamels.
 
 
Objects studied:
 
Signatures for Kusube Yaichi
Taiko Drummer Boy Figure 1 & Satsuma Vase 1 - Kusube signature 1
 
 
Signatures for Kusube Sennosuke
Taiko Drummer Boy Figure 2 & Satsuma Vase 2 - Kusube signature 2
 
SIGNATURES OF THE ARTIST KUSUBEI YAICHI (楠部彌弌)
IMPRESSED SIGNATURES IN SEAL SCRIPT
   
       
SIGNATURES ON POTTERY-FAIENCE-PORCELAIN
       
SIGNATURES ON WOOD ARTICLE BOX
       
 
SIGNATURES OF THE ARTIST KUSUBEI SENNOSUKE
 (楠部千之助)
       
 
 
 

 

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