Japan, an exceptionally big 23″ tall antique monumental monochrome mesmerizing green crackle glazed dragon vase with a dramatic and impressive “curling dragon” wrapped around its stem.

It was crafted by the master artisans of the Japanese southern Awaji Kiln, from the late Meiji to Taisho period (1910-1920).

The impressive porcelain vase crafted in a tubular modernist form with an original brilliant green glazed finish and with an applied curling dragon sculpture. It is unsigned as many normally were from that period and is in original condition with normal kiln origination surface creation imperfections.

Dimensions: 23 inches tall and 16 inches widest diameter base and 8 inch diameter top

Provenance: private New England collection.

Undoubtedly influenced by the modernist movement and more likely by the visit to the Awaji kilns by the noted English designer Christopher Dresser of Linthorpe Art Pottery, Yorkshire, UK (his visit recorded in 1875), this pottery kiln was located on Awaji island in Japan between Honshu and Shikoku. It was founded about 1830 by a doctor named Minpei in the village of Iga. The Awaji potters were masters of their pottery crafts, specialists in using colorful high-fired, white or cream colored clays with brilliant monochromatic colored crackled glazes. It is quite normal to see original to creation surface kiln imperfections in the glazes as this one. This rare singular vase is the only example of its size and amber yellow color we have seen.

About Japan’s Colorful Hand made Awaji Pottery

Awaji pottery date from about 1830 during the Edo period to the 1930’s early Showa period. Awaji potteries began exporting their wares in about 1870-1880. In the 1930’s the Awaji kilns closed. Awaji pottery is unique in Japanese and international works of art. It’s high-fired white or cream clay pottery is largely hand thrown and depicts an array of handsome balanced designs and shapes, a wide variety of pleasing brilliant colors, attractive translucent crackled glazing, and feature master decorative techniques. Colors include cobalt blue, natural greens, pale to amber yellows, and aubergine (egg plant color). In addition, some glazed pots may possess lighter shades of green, blue, turquoise, black and burgundy. Cobalt colored Iris applied designs created in the art nouveau taste of that time, were just one of Awaji master potter favorites and were a trade mark of Awaji potteries.

Lifetime guarantee of authenticity: All of our works of art come with our lifetime authenticity guarantee.

Our gallery based in Newport, Rhode Island USA has been dealing in authentic Pre-Columbian, Japanese and fine Asian art, garden ornaments, lanterns and water basins for 25 years. Our president personally travels across America as well as Japan and Europe each year to meet his network partners who assist him in finding best examples. He personally inspects each antique work of art to ensure its old age, authenticity and quality condition.