It is a work by Kameda Sangetsu (亀田山月), who was one of the successors of Sano aka-e, when he was 61 years old. The inside and outside are drawn in red, and we can see the proficiency in the detailed brush strokes of the sages, sansui (mountain and waters), and komon (fine patterns). The modest gold color is also seems to reflect the tendency of Sano aka-e at the beginning.

The figures of three sages, a hundred of scholars, and seven Sages in the bamboo are said to make designs by Saita Isaburo, the master of Kameda, and they have rich facial expressions.

While Chinese-style landscape is drawn in detail on the inside and outside of the cup and on the inside of the lid, and the big tree is drawn freely. It is splendid that the design with such shades was drawn even in red alone.

The back name is written as “九谷山月kutani / Sangetsu / at 61-year-old”. As he entered his later years, he was proficient in his entire work. Interestingly the tobacco leaf pattern devised by Saita Isaburo around the foot is also finely drawn.

creator of work

Yamatsuki Kameda  亀田山月  born in 1844, dead in 1916.

In 1854, when Kameda was 11 years old, he became a student of the painting factory managed by Saita Isaburo and trained mainly in the technique of red painting, and then was independent in 1862 and started the porcelain painting business. His store name was called as Sangetsu (山月).

Even after becoming independent, it is said that he continued to study as a painter under Saita, and from around 1875 (Saita was dead in 1867), as the leader of the the factory, he held “15th Day meeting of Sano Painters” with the first Hashida Yosaburo and others. On the 15th of every month, he held a commentary meeting regarding the works made by group members, and leaded the younger painter to improve their skills. At the same time, he put a lot of effort into researching the development of Dokai’s vermilion.

In 1888, when he was 44 years old, he established another painting style by making the most of the painting style which he learned from Arakawa Tanrei. A new painting style seems to appear in his work “red and gold bowl with person under pine tree” (refer next work). So, it is said that he specialized in fine drawing using vermilion and brocade.

His disciples included Kameda Somatsu, Tamagawa　Seiemon, Tomita　Taromatsu, Kameda Gonjiro, etc.