Antique Japanese Meiji Cloisonné Vase c.1890, Dragon & Phoenix, 24cm

Antique Japanese Meiji period cloisonné enamel vase, dating to circa 1890, richly decorated with dragons, phoenixes and flowers.

A wonderfully decorative late 19th-century Japanese cloisonné vase with an unusually elaborate combination of designs and colours.

The body is divided into shield-shaped panels featuring mythical creatures, including sinuous dragons against sparkling green aventurine-flecked enamel grounds and colourful phoenix or ho-o birds amongst stylised foliage.

Above the principal panels is a broad red enamel band filled with chrysanthemums and other flowers amongst scrolling green foliage. Further geometric and floral borders, together with the rich yellow, blue, green, red and pink enamels, give the vase tremendous visual impact.

The vase is constructed on a metal body with applied cloisonné wirework and metal rims.

Date: Circa 1890
Period: Meiji period (1868–1912)
Origin: Japan
Material: Cloisonné enamel on metal
Height: 24 cm / approx. 9.45 inches
Maximum diameter: approx. 14 cm / 5.5 inches
Weight: 608 g

Condition

This is an antique piece approximately 135 years old and consequently shows age-related wear.

There are areas of enamel loss, most noticeably around the upper rim, together with a smaller area of loss to one of the dragon panels. There are also fine age-related lines/cracking, small pits, surface marks and wear, and tarnishing/wear to the metal rims.

Please study all photographs carefully as they form an important part of the condition description.

Despite these imperfections, the vase remains structurally impressive and highly decorative. The extensive cloisonné decoration survives particularly well overall and the colours remain wonderfully vibrant.

A striking genuine Meiji-period Japanese decorative antique and an appealing piece for a collector of Japanese cloisonné, Asian antiques or dragon and phoenix imagery.