Satsuma Tea Set

We have a 100 year-old Japanese Satsuma tea set with dragon and immortals design, presumably of the Meiji period. There are 6 cups, 6 saucers, tea pot, creamer and sugar bowl all with lids. The set is yellowish pottery earthenware, has a fine crackle glaze, white slip work (moriage) and heavy gilding, all typical of authentic Satsuma ware. The design is a highly detailed scene of 5 Japanese warriors/gods and a woman, intertwined with a dragon. The teapot is 8" high with lid on. The inside of each cup is painted with a seated warrior/god. Each piece is signed on the bottom with a rectangular cartouche of Japanese symbols. The top symbol, a circle with a cross, represents the Shimazu family crest.

Also included are two large vases, 13" high and 9" wide, that have been fitted as lamps. The designs on the vases are mirror images, and the handles are heavily gilded dragons.

All pieces were purchased in Japan by my husband's grandfather while he visited there while in the Navy in the early 1920's or perhaps the late teens.