Satsuma-Style Moriage Vase

This vintage Japanese piece is a Satsuma-style moriage vase, a highly recognizable form of Japanese export pottery popular during the early to mid-20th century.

The vase features a distinctive cobalt blue glaze on the neck and base, which is often enriched with intricate gold gilt detailing. The central body displays hand-painted panels depicting traditional immortal figures or Buddhist deities (Rakan), who are frequently shown with gilded halos. These scenes are brought to life using the moriage technique, which involves applying layers of thick clay or enamel to create raised, textured patterns on the surface of the piece. 

The vase is often finished with decorative gold-toned handles, which can sometimes take the shape of stylized figures like foo dogs. While many of these pieces were produced during the Meiji era (1868–1912) and the following Showa period, the "Made in Japan" stamp on the base typically indicates it was manufactured for export between 1921 and the 1940s, before the "Occupied Japan" period.