The Nishikide Mother and Child Figure in our collection is an example of hamamono, the export-oriented crafts produced in the Meiji period, and was created by Chin Jukan XII, one of the most renowned masters of Satsuma ware. The origins of Satsuma ware date back more than 400 years, to the Bunroku and Keichō campaigns (1592, 1598). Following these expeditions, Shimazu Yoshihiro, lord of Satsuma, brought Korean potters back to Japan, who laid the foundation for Satsuma ware. It was thereafter fostered and protected as one of the Satsuma domain’s key industries throughout the Edo period.
Satsuma ware first gained international fame at the Paris Exposition of 1867, Japan’s debut at a world’s fair, where it was met with great acclaim. Its reputation grew further at the Vienna Exposition of 1873, where Chin Jukan XII received high praise. Riding the wave of the Japonisme movement, Satsuma ware quickly became a sensation across Europe and America, captivating collectors and connoisseurs alike.
At the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, Chin Jukan XII introduced innovative works known as nerrimono—sculptural forms that had previously been impossible to achieve with traditional Satsuma techniques. The Nishikide Mother and Child Figure is thought to have been produced with these techniques during the 1890s. With its delicate polychrome decoration and graceful form, the piece not only embodies the artistry of late-Meiji Satsuma ware but also reflects the international reach and cultural significance it attained during this era.