Exquisite Japanese Wireless Cloisonné Dragon Motif Vase, Meiji / Taisho Period

Details

Description

Japanese Wireless Cloisonné Enamel Vase, likely from the Meiji period (1868–1912) or possibly the early Taisho period (1912–1926). The vase … Read more Japanese Wireless Cloisonné Enamel Vase, likely from the Meiji period (1868–1912) or possibly the early Taisho period (1912–1926). The vase features a dynamic depiction of a Japanese dragon, a symbol of power, strength, and good fortune in Japanese culture.

The dragon is rendered with fine detail, showcasing intricate scales and whiskers. In Japanese mythology, dragons are water deities associated with rainfall and bodies of water, unlike their fire-breathing Western counterparts.

Cloisonné Technique: The subtle yet precise outlining of the dragon suggests a wireless cloisonné (musen shippo) or a standard cloisonné technique, where enamel is applied between fine wire compartments. This style became especially refined during the late 19th century in Japan.

Color Palette: The monochrome enamel dragon contrasts elegantly against the white enamel background, while the interior's vivid turquoise enamel adds a vibrant accent. The turquoise lining is characteristic of Japanese cloisonné vases from this era. The vase has a classic baluster form with a narrow neck and flared rim, typical of export wares during the Meiji period aimed at Western collectors. The dragon in Japanese art is often shown chasing the flaming pearl, symbolizing wisdom, prosperity, and the pursuit of perfection.

The use of cloisonné enamel flourished in Japan during the Meiji Restoration, as Japanese artisans mastered and innovated upon Chinese cloisonné techniques, creating pieces highly sought after by collectors.

Condition Report

The greenish linear inclusion visible in the cloisonné enamel is not a structural crack but rather a color bleed or firing flaw—a relatively common occurrence in early- or mid-period cloisonné work. Here’s a more technical and descriptive explanation you can use:

This linear inclusion is best understood as a glaze migration or enamel bleed, likely occurring during the high-temperature firing process. Instead of a fracture, it appears to be a subsurface flow of pigment—in this case, a green oxide (possibly copper-based) that has migrated or diffused within the white ground enamel. This can happen when adjacent enamel compartments (or cloisons) are slightly overpacked or when flux from one cell seeps under the neighboring glassy surface during kiln firing.

The result is a soft-edged streak beneath the enamel surface, with no tactile crack or separation. It often reads visually as a watermark or ink stroke, and though technically a flaw, such inclusions are commonly accepted in antique or hand-crafted cloisonné—especially in pieces where artistic spontaneity and kiln variables add uniqueness.

This mark is stable and not considered a structural issue—rather, it adds to the piece’s authenticity as a handcrafted object of its time. See less