Huge Japanese Dragon Decorated Imari Floor Vase

A Monumental pair of Japanese Meiji Period Imari vases with Dragon handles, Japanese Porcelain Studio Marks on Underside. Each is beautifully ...

On offer is a large Japanese Imari ceramic bottle vase with elaborate surface design circa 19th century (late Meiji Period). The distinct shape of the bottle is called tea-whisk form and the rare prototype was found in the early Ko-Imari production dated back to 16-17th century of Edo period. The shape was designed specifically to store liquor. This revived bottle was made in the 19th century and showcases decoration and colors typical of Imari ware. A lady in kimono holding a fan under a Sakura tree is showcased in the front and the back, with underglaze blue contrasting the rich overglaze enamel and gold. On the two sides, raised relief borders enclose scenes of combatant dragons and tigers under plum trees, both rendered in great relief details and of sculptural quality. The base was marked in underglaze blue the archaic Chinese characters "Da Ming Cheng Hua Year Made...