Satsuma export ware Koshida: factory active c. 1880–1927; resumed production after 1945 Maruni: Kobe manufacturer active until 1938 Taizan/Obi-ya: family-run Kyoto kiln active c. 1673–1922; began exporting in 1872, especially to America Yasuda: Kyoto-based company formally known as Yasuda Kyoto Tokiji Goshigaisha, active in Meiji period Counterfeits The incredible popularity of Satsuma ware and the eagerness of collectors to find pre-Meiji pieces led some manufacturers and dealers to deliberately misrepresent items' age and origins. Some sold other types of ceramics such as Awata or Seto ware as Satsuma. Some falsely used the names of famous artists or studios to mark pieces. Early Japanese ceramics rarely had stamps or signatures, which can make dating some Satsuma ware difficult. One characteristic of earlier pieces, however, is a high-quality glaze and finish, as later mass production led to dramatically inferior works. Another telling feature of genuine pieces is that their bodies do not ring when tapped, since they are made from stoneware clay and not porcelain. Notes References External links Jukan kiln, official website Pottery Information Centre Japan Traditional Craft Association, Ceramics page Japanese Gallery Ceramics, Yabu Meizan Maple Leaves Vase Japanese pottery Satsuma Province Meiji period